If I could encapsulate what this year’s Crop Over in Barbados felt like in one word, it would be home.
For those unfamiliar, Crop Over is a month-long festival across the island that marks the end of sugar cane harvest — as in quite literally, the crops are over. Traditions can be traced back to the 1700s, but the festival was not officially established nationally until 1974, following a pause due to a decrease in the demand for sugar after the Second World War.
Crop Over’s revival has become a spectacle that deserves attention on a worldwide scale, featuring a one-of-a-kind mixture of art, food, music and masquerade. And the raving that comes with it, frankly, calling it a celebration would be a severe understatement.
Now, Barbados is not the only country to feature elements of carnival, like soca music, stilt-walkers and masquerade. Carnival in Trinidad, Spicemas in Grenada and VincyMas in St. Vincent are all examples of similar events that showcase the interconnectedness of the Caribbean islands. But I’d be remiss to not point out that there’s no such thing as Barbados Carnival. The idea of ‘playing mas’ isn’t correct over there. This is Crop Over, a festival that proves to be way more than just a jump and wave.
Visit Barbados invited Now Toronto to experience a full week of Crop Over festivities and share a day-by-day recap on our socials, but let me give you the real insider tea on Crop Over 2025!
DAY ONE: WELCOME TO BARBADOS!
Let me set things straight from here: the theme of this trip was RUM!
Prior to touching down on Wednesday, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as a frequent Caribbean traveller, some things are a given; the heat licking you as soon as you step off the plane, the lush palm trees setting a beautiful backdrop for picture-perfect views, and obviously, rum, a spirit deeply intertwined in island pride and identity.
Barbados is considered the birthplace of rum, and its Mount Gay Distillery, which was founded in 1703, is believed to produce the oldest rum found anywhere in the world. That being said, this trip might as well have been sponsored by Mount Gay, because that seemed more readily available than water at times.
The evening following our arrival, we headed to the Stade’s Rum Distillery (how fitting, right?) for a welcome party that gave us just a taste of what was to come over the next few days.
Greeted by stilt-walkers, we entered the reception area and were met with gourmet eats like lamb and roasted breadfruit, basil-crusted fish, and sweet potato and corn chowder, curated by chef Trevon Stoute. World-class dancers and fire-breathers also kept the crowd entertained, but what would stand out was the extraordinary drink menu, featuring an extensive selection from white, to gold, to coconut to exclusive editions.
To close out a boozy night, a whining contest was held, and the prize was none other than a bottle of rum, and a few other goodies too. Well, I’ll let you guess who won!
DAY TWO: CULTURE DAY
@nowtoronto Now Toronto is in Barbados for Crop Over, a month-long festival jam-packed with music, activities, and culture. Join us as we ring in Day One! #VisitBarbados #CropOver 🇧🇧 @mybarbados ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
It’s the day after landing in Barbados, and we were nowhere near exploring just how much heritage was infused into Crop Over. And that’s why our first stop of the day was Harbour Lights, a vibrant beach bar turned workshop for us to get deep in the true Bajan lifestyle.
Here, we learned the art of waist bead-making, took some stilt-walking lessons, roasted breadfruit, explored the ins and outs of fire-eating/breathing, and my personal favourite session – dressing up as Mother Sally.
Mother Sally is a character, traditionally performed by a masked man, who dances with the Bajan Tuk Band (a musical ensemble which typically consists of a flute, snare drum and double-headed bass drum). She is known for her exaggerated, padded chest and wide posterior – referred to as a ‘boxy’ – and represents female fertility.
The laughter amongst us girls on the trip was priceless as we all shook, whined and ‘jooked our boxies’ all around and to the ground, dancing to the steady beat of the Tuk Band.
After wrapping up the afternoon with a mixology lesson (featuring Mount Gay rum, of course), we headed to the bus to get ready for our next destination.
Next up was the Barbados Turf Club which hosts horse racing, a sporting and social scene deeply woven into Barbadian history and culture. Since 1845, the racetrack has been a popular place for locals to kick back, enjoy nail-biting races, and also watch some amazing performances! While I don’t know much about horses or racing, I can say it was quite amusing to see how active the attendees were – they’re really serious about it!
Our final stop for the night was a party called Lifted, which some say is the final kick-off for the last week of Crop Over, and I can understand why! Held at Copacabana Beach Club, this chic beach party was fueled with trendy Bajan soca, and even had an appearance by Jus Jay King, a popular DJ and artist responsible for some of the biggest songs of the season! The vibes set the mood for how locals really like to party – all night long. And in a few hours, I would learn that very quickly.
DAY THREE: MIMOSA EXPERIENCE AND OISTINS FISH FRY
After a long night out, most people would probably be going to bed at around 3 a.m. Well, at that time, I was waking up to head to a fete.
The Mimosa Experience, an all-inclusive party, kicked off at 4 a.m. That’s right, FOUR O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING!
@nowtoronto A little rain never hurt nobody! Now Toronto is turning up the heat in Barbados for Crop Over. Here’s what we got into on day two. 🇧🇧#CropOver ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
Now, this party was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s very rare in Toronto that bottomless drinks are included with your ticket, much less unlimited food too! After receiving our complimentary champagne upon arrival in a souvenir Mimosa-branded cup, ladies were also given portable fans and an umbrella for the imminent rain ahead. Unfortunately, we were not prepared for the downpour that would shortly follow.
In Caribbean terms, the party got ‘wash out,’ with rain quickly flooding the dirt lot. The brightly-coloured venue, adorned in florals and hummingbirds, turned to a brown, muddy mess in the blink of an eye. But honestly, that didn’t stop many, including myself, to still hold a vibe. The music was still blasting through the speakers; “I in a good good spirit/Ah drinking a good good spirit,” filled the air and people everywhere continued to dance, cups sky-high. A 4 a.m. wake-up call is no joke, so I also made sure to stop by the food tent and indulge in the brunch offerings; think chocolate-chip pancakes topped with apple compote, saltfish served with crispy wonton chips and chicken lo mein.
After washing off the surprising amount of mud that got on my legs at a nearby pipe, we headed back to the bus for a quick nap before dinnertime.
A trip to Barbados is not complete without a trip to Oistins on a Friday night, so it’s only right for that to have been our next stop.
A pescatarian’s dream; Oistins Bay Garden sits right on the coastline and is THE spot for seafood every weekend. The vibe was electric as I watched as hundreds of both locals and tourists poured in for their dose of daily catch and community spirit.
Let’s get into the FOOD! My mouthwatering plate from Baba Delights was bursting at the seams, loaded with grilled tuna, macaroni pie, steak cut fries, and coleslaw, and as delicious as my food was, I almost envied others around me with their fried red snapper and king fish.
But besides the food, what really made this stop for me was the people in the marketplace. Families, some taking up entire tables for 12, gathering together for a meal amongst groovy steel pan drumming. Vendors selling hand-crafted trinkets and clothing along the pathway adjacent to what felt like an endless amount of shops. It didn’t take the ‘Welcome Home’ sign on the wall for me to feel invited into this world.
I left Oistins with a full belly and heart, and a whole lot of energy to fuel the crazy night ahead of me.
DAY FOUR: FOREDAY, DIS GOTTA BE MAS AND BLISS
Picture this: it’s 12 a.m., and you’re dressed in clothes that will never see the light of day again, equipped with a shower cap (in some cases, a garbage bag), a waterproof phone case and your home country’s flag.
It’s Foreday Morning, a vibrant night parade that begins just after midnight, and only days before the Grand Kadooment, which marks the finale of Crop Over. At Foreday, we revelled through the streets of Bridgetown, dancing to the best music of the season and dripping in paint and powder. It’s an indescribable freedom, one that doesn’t require you to be dolled up and in your best wear. In fact, expect to throw those clothes straight in the trash!
@nowtoronto Whew, no sleep for the Now Toronto team as they take on Crop Over in Barbados! Here’s what they got into on day three. 🇧🇧🔥 #CropOver @mybarbados ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
Our turn up took us all the way to sunrise, and after receiving a hearty breakfast of bake, saltfish, curried chickpeas and eggs, we headed back to the hotel for some serious rest.
That sleep felt like a wink before waking up to get ready for the evening, which brought us to Dis Gotta Be Mas, a fete at the official residence of Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley! With unlimited drinks flowing and plenty of options for food, from alfredo pasta to curried goat on rice, clearly she knows how to throw a party!
Lastly, we headed to Bliss, another incredible all-inclusive experience. Though we arrived quite late due to traffic, we made it just in time for the most spectacular drone show which projected all things Bajan culture into the night sky, as well as a zestful performance by soca icon Lil Rick!
Let me tell you, three parties in one day is NOT for the weak! But would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat.
DAY FIVE: BREKFUS AND SUNSET CATAMARAN CRUISE
Hunger? Never felt that once.
Waking up for Brekfus was possibly the easiest moment of this trip, as thoughts of devouring delicious Bajan favourites filled my mind in my dreams. This all-inclusive event gave you a taste of classics, like pudding and souse with breadfruit, as well as traditional breakfast staples like scrambled eggs and sausages. Forget a mimosa in the morning, because rum punch was flowing by the jug! All of that paired with a live DJ playing the best soca hits? Chef’s kiss.
Later on, the evening brought us to a sunset catamaran cruise, where we basked in the sun until it fell below the horizon. But between that, after trying our hand at snorkelling amongst fish and turtles to a shipwreck below the boat, we indulged in irresistible plates of stewed chicken, fish, mac pie, and potato salad.
I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we were all thankful, for a day of relaxation, because in less than 12 hours, it would be time to ‘mash up di road!’
DAY SIX: GRAND KADOOMENT
CROP OVER, GOOD MORNING!
The moment we long awaited was finally here – Kadooment Day. And a reminder, we’re not here to play a mas, we’re JUMPING at Kadooment!
This final masquerade event of Crop Over saw thousands of participants revelling to soca music in dazzling costumes. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of my costume, and while the logistics of the parade route were a bit challenging to navigate, I still had the BEST time. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., we took on the road, and took advantage of all its offerings; from misting stations for cooling down in the hot sun to on-the-move drink carts.
As a previous masquerader here at home in Toronto, I don’t think anything compares to the energy of being in the islands; the safety I felt from security holding up ropes so that stormers couldn’t disturb the feting, the love I received from gleaming homeowners as the route passed their residences, and the brilliant colours of the feathers creating a gorgeous mosaic along the path.
If there’s one thing I could recommend to future-goers it’s PACE! Take your time, as Kadooment Day can be anywhere between eight to 12 hours long on your feet. As tempting and readily available as rum punch is, be sure to stay hydrated with water, as this day is a full body workout!
DAY SEVEN: ISLAND TOUR
Our final day in paradise gave us the real behind-the-scenes tea, with a trip to several landmarks across Barbados.
From exploring Harrison’s Cave, a tram tour through a crystalized limestone cave which has existed for approximately 500,000 years, to a brief stop outside of original island gyal Rihanna’s home, it was evident to me that Barbados is serious on celebrating their homegrown achievements.
This was even more inevitable with a quick stop at the Builders of Barbados Wall, a memorial located in Golden Square Freedom Park in Bridgetown. This long curved wall made of bricks contains the surnames of people who have lived in Barbados, past and present, honouring their contributions to the island over hundreds of years. It was humbling to see, and even more heartwarming to spot my last name – shout out to my potential cousin!
Sitting down for our final meal together at De Thirsty Lizard, tears filled all of our eyes as our group of girls said goodbye for a last time before departing to our corners of the world. From Canada, to the U.S., to Latin America, to the Caribbean, Crop Over brought us together and no one could ever take that away from us.
After seven full days on this gorgeous island, I mean it when I say that Barbados owes me nothing! The experience has given me a lifetime of friendships, memories, and a cupboard full of souvenir tumblers. This might have been my first trip to Barbados, but it certainly won’t be my last. Get ready friends, because I’m already counting down the days until the next Crop Over 2026!
