André Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Trevor Chase in his costume that won the King of the Bands title at last year's Crop Over.- file photo

If ever there was a good time to visit Barbados, it would be during the Crop Over season.

From May 18 until August 9, the little island of Barbados comes alive with a string of activities that will have something for everyone. The summer festival is said to be second only to the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in the Caribbean region.

Crop Over dates back to as early as the 1780s when Barbados was the world's largest producer of sugar. The festival signalled the end of the sugar cane season and also was a celebration of its success.

The sugar industry in the island is far from being as vibrant as it was back then, and when it began to decline the festival died along with it. But as the years went by the Barbados Tourist Authority (BTA) resurrected the festival. In 1984 it was taken over by the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and has been soaring ever since. A group from Barbados was recently in the island to promote the festival and, according to T.H. Ian Estwick, chief executive officer of the NCF, this year the festival will be unlike any previously seen.

"Whatever you want will be there. There is the visual arts for people who are not revellers like most of us. There is also the culinary arts and some theatre. Everybody can come along," Estwick said.

Foreday Mornin' Jam

Some of the major events at the festival include the Foreday Mornin' Jam, which is the equivalent to Beach J'ouvert in Jamaica, and Bridgetown Market, which involves selling local food and beverages as well as local arts and crafts. Cohobblopot, a carnival-like show with members of the Kadooment bands displaying their elaborate and stunning costumes, will be on the final Sunday, while the road march, Grand Kadooment, will take place the following day.

The events have featured many of the region's top soca and reggae stars over the years, including Luciano, Richie Spice, Destra, Machel Mantano and David Rudder. Estwick said he was in talks with two major Jamaican artistes for this year's festival, but he could not reveal the names just yet.

Linda Christian-Clarke of the BTA said Jamaicans and others from around the region have always supported the festival, and she was looking for nothing less this year.

"It is a wonderful product. There is a lot to see and do and it depends on you. Please come and experience something different and enjoyable," Christian-Clarke urged.

The hoteliers and travel personnel from Barbados, who were also in the island, expressed optimism about the possibilities the festival will bring this year.