New Year
Is traditionally a time to take out the old and bring in the new. Houses are cleaned, resolutions are made and hopes are pinned on the next year’s offerings. New Years day is traditionally a day for families with big dinners and many people travelling to see relatives. Recently however it has become a time to recover from the celebrations from the night before.

Barbados Jazz Festival
This week–long event sees jazz musicians of both domestic and international repute come together to celebrate all that is great about this popular musical genre. The festival is held at a variety of locations around the island, including Heritage Park, Garfield Sobers Auditorium, Farley Hill and Sunbury Plantation House.

Holetown Festival
This annual event is held in commemoration of the first settlers who landed at St James in February of 1627 and sees a parade with brightly coloured floats make its way around the city with the support of the a magnificent military band. Huge crowds assemble to support the event with stalls selling food, drink and locally made products, set up along the parade route.

Oistins Fish Festival
This annual festival is held at Easter in commemoration of the signing of the Charter of Barbados and sees three days of parades, competitions, fishing demonstrations and music with dancing. A variety of fish delicacies are available at food stalls for the duration of the event.

Congaline Street Festival
This nine-day affair is normally held at the end of the month and sees the Congaline Village play host to a variety of music, art and cultural events. The festival is a well attended affair with both locals and holiday makers turning up to enjoy the revelry.

Gospelfest
Lovers of gospel music will be in their element at the Barbados Gospelfest, an event that sees gospel singers from the UK, the US and other Caribbean islands, assemble to showcase their singing talents. Concerts are held and prizes are awarded. It truly is a showcase of some of the best gospel talent in the world.

Crop Over Festival
The annual Crop Over festival is a cultural affair that begins in July and runs for five weeks during which time, visitors are treated to live music, street parades, all night parties and cultural performances.

Crop Over Festival
The festival that begins in July continues on into August with more of the same.

Sun, Sea and Slams International Bridge Festival
Bridge players from all around the world come to Barbados to take part in what is one of the game’s most significant annual events.

Barbados Reef Bowl
Surfers from all over the world head to Barbados for this three-day event in which competitors showcase their talents in the hopes of winning the prestigious competition title.

National Independence Festival of Creative Arts
A variety of creative arts performances including musical concerts, plays and exhibitions, are held in the period following the island’s Independence Day.

Run Barbados
This is a popular annual event which is held every December and attracts both professional and amateur runners who are keen to participate in this revered race. Every year the competition includes various course options which are suited to all levels of fitness, allowing everyone to participate. The route often passes through some of Barbados’ most historic and scenic attractions ensuring that the views en route are spectacular.

Christmas
Christmas on Barbados is a fun-filled affair with families getting together to enjoy enormous feasts and friends meeting up for beachside bar-be-ques. There is nothing like spending Christmas in the sun. Despite there being no snow, many other traditional Christmas revelries are celebrated such as midnight mass being held, carols being sung, decorations being displayed and presents being given and received. There is a party atmosphere in the air for two weeks before Christmas day with gospel and other choral performaces being give in venues across the city.

New Years Day – 1 January
Errol Barrow Day – 21 January
Good Friday – 25 March
Easter Monday - 28 March
National Heroes’ Day – 28 April
Labour Day – 1 May
Whit Monday – 16 May
Emancipation Day/Kadooment Day – 1 August
Independence Day – 30 November
Christmas Day – 25 December
Boxing Day – 26 December