An island for all seasons
The most popular time to travel to Barbados is during the winter months, when the days are shorter and colder in the northern part of the globe.
The most popular time to travel to Barbados is during the winter months, when the days are shorter and colder in the northern part of the globe. This has caused the island to be seen as a winter destination. However, with its perpetual sunshine, year round warm temperatures, laidback lifestyle and a plethora of festivals and events, there’s every reason why you should begin to see Barbados as an island for all seasons.
Here are some of the best events on the island’s calendar. The dates for each activity change slightly each year, so do ask us at Virgo Villas and we can confirm the dates and times of any events you’re interested in.
Winter
This is indeed a wonderful time to visit the island as the weather is cooler and drier than at other times of the year, with temperatures of around 28 C. There are also a number of fabulous activities on the you shouldn’t miss.
Christmas in Queens Park
If you have the good fortune to be in Barbados for Christmas, visit Queens Park in Bridgetown on Christmas morning. Locals get dressed up in colourful and sometimes outlandish suits and splendorous gowns to promenade and wish each other a Merry Christmas. If you’ve ever believed that it’s impossible to feel the spirit of Christmas in warm climates, you’ll change your mind after mingling for a couple of hours with a rum punch in one hand and a fish cake in the other, caught up in the festivity and lightheartedness of a tropical Christmas celebration.
Barbados National Trust Open House
Don’t miss is the Open House season sponsored by the Barbados National Trust. Twice a week, from mid- January to the end of March, locals and visitors are welcomed into the most historically interesting and architecturally stunning private homes on the island where there’s often live music and a range of cultural performances.
Barbados Independent Film Festival
Rounding out this list of events for the winter season is the Barbados Independent Film Festival, which usually runs for a little over a week in the middle of January. Don’t miss a unique opportunity to see independent films and shorts from the best local, regional and international filmmakers.
Spring
Over the first month and a half of the spring season in Barbados, the temperature retains its winter cool of 28 C but may starts to creep up by a degree or so towards the end of April.
The Sandy Lane Gold Cup
Barbadians are avid horse-racing fans, and March kicks off with one of the most anticipated sporting events on the island, The Sandy Lane Gold Cup, which brings in horse-racing fans as well as jockeys and trainers from all over the world.
Barbados Chocolate, Pastry & Wine Festival
If you have a sweet tooth, check out the Barbados Chocolate, Pastry & Wine Festival held for one day during the first week of April. A relatively new addition to the culinary scene, the festival features culinary demonstrations and workshops from chocolatiers, pastry chefs, wine makers, and confectioners.
Barbados Reggae Festival
Another highlight of the season is the Barbados Reggae Festival, which takes place in the last week of April and brings to the island a number of top-billed Reggae acts. The Festival features a reggae beach party, a cruise and a dance, and culminates in Reggae on the Hill at the Farley Hill National Park in St. Peter.
Summer
With average daytime temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius, summer in Barbados is HOT but not nearly as hot as many parts of Europe and North America. Traditionally this is the quiet season in terms of visitors to the island, but in many ways it’s the best time to visit our shores. Not only are accommodation prices at their lowest, but also beaches and restaurants are quieter, the sea is a bit warmer, and because of the rhythm of the tide, the beaches are wider than at other times of the year.
Rally Barbados
For locals, though, summer is anything but quiet. For the first three days of June, all eyes are on Rally Barbados, an international all-stage motor car rally that attracts well over 100 crews and drivers and if you’ve never seen one of these rallies you’re in for a nail-biting experience.
Crop Over Festival
Then from the end of June to the beginning of August, the island turns its attention to its premier celebration, the Crop Over Festival. The biggest party of all is Grand Kadooment, an explosion of energy and colour involving thousands of revellers. They all make their way through the streets in a kaleidoscope of colour to the Spring Garden Highway, where the party continues well into the night against the picturesque backdrop of Brighton beach.
Autumn
September in Barbados is a time for recovery from bacchanalian excesses. Children go back to school, and the island is noticeably quieter for a few weeks before things pick up again.
The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA)
From the beginning of October to mid-November, NIFCA showcases the best of Barbadian talent, focusing the spotlight on original performances in drama, dance, music, literature, visual and culinary arts, photography and art & craft.
Barbados Food and Rum Festival
Every year in mid-October, Barbados becomes the mecca for chefs who participate in the Barbados Food and Rum Festival. Foodies are treated to the best of local and international cuisine and cooking demonstrations by top chefs, including US Food Network stars Marcus Samuelsson, Anne Burrell, Tom Colicchio and others.
Find Out More
Of course, these are just a small sample of the plethora of activities that take place around the island year round, so if you need more information, help booking an event or are trying to decide when you’d like to visit the island, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re always happy to help.