EASTER WEEKEND IN BARBADOS KICKS OFF EXCITING SPRING CALENDAR
From street festivals to cricket, Barbados will satisfy every appetite this Easter long weekend
TORONTO, ON (March 30, 2012) – Festivals, food and thrilling sports matches fill up this Easter long weekend in Barbados and set an exciting pace for spring. CHUM FM’s Breakfast in Barbados concert will have some tough acts to follow as the annual Oistins Fish Festival making the seaside village sizzle. The competition will get heavy between the West Indian cricket team and rival Australia in a 1st Test game while the Barbados polo season gallops along at Apes Hill with a series of matches. This jam-packed Easter long weekend is just the beginning of this spring’s exciting and full event lineup.
The first weekend in April is only the beginning of the spring calendar of events. Canadian superstars Nelly Furtado and K’Naan are sure to impress when they take the stage for CHUM FM’s Breakfast in Barbados concert on April 15 at Holders. This annual concert has been bringing Canadians to Barbados for over 26 years and always leaves the audience wanting more. If you weren’t fortunate enough to win your way in, you can buy tickets when you’re on island at Harbour Lights.
The scenic town of Oistins on Barbados’ south coast, is home to the annual Oistins Fish Festival which celebrates the local fishing industry. Visitors to the festival, which runs from April 7 – 9, can expect live calypso and reggae music, craft fairs, family games, boat races and stalls selling delicious seafood dishes. Oistins is famous for their market and the Friday Fish Fry where visitors and locals gather to enjoy delicious fresh fish, live music and dancing; it’s a must-do on any Barbados visit.
From April 7 – 11, the Kensington Oval and the West Indies will host their rival on the International Cricket scene, Australia, for 1st Test matches. As in many former British colonies, cricket remains a popular sport. In fact, Barbadians follow the sport as closely and with as much passion as Canadians follow hockey. Get caught up in the enthusiasm in the stands at the Oval or at one of the 1,500 rum shops scattered across the island.
Polo is another remnant from Barbados’ colonial days and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Apes Hill, which will host matches on April 5, 7 and 9, is just one of five stunning polo fields on the island where matches are played every weekend from January through May.
At the end of April, the Barbados Reggae Festival will take the beat to the beach and Farley Hill National Park for four days of reggae. The festival kicks off April 22, 2012 on the stunning west coast with a Beach Party at Brandon’s Beach and continues with performances on April 27 and 28 before wrapping up with Reggae on the Hill on April 29. This year’s headliners include some of the biggest names in reggae including Jah Cure, Third World, Wendy Alleyne, and Mr. Vegas.
Getting there:
Air Canada currently provides daily direct service to Barbados with nine flights weekly from Toronto and twice-weekly flights from Montreal. For further information and flight promotions, visit www.aircanada.com.
Getting to Barbados has never been easier. WestJet makes it both easy and affordable to get to Barbados, offering non-stop flights from Toronto five times a week. Ticket information is available at www.westjet.com.
Transat Holidays introduced direct service from Toronto on December 25, 2011 with a weekly flight to Bridgetown for the winter season. Details and booking information is available at www.transatholidays.com.
About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes, including The Crane Beach, St. Philip, voted on of the world’s sexiest beaches for 2008 by Concierge.com. Regarded by many as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Barbados is home to numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is also an ideal stage for world-class events and has hosted numerous athletic championships, including the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2007 and the 2006 PGA World Golf Championship-The Barbados World Cup. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation house and villas to quaint bed and breakfasts to award-winning five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers non-stop and direct service from Toronto daily on Air Canada, 9 times weekly in the winter and 2 flights weekly out of Montreal. WestJet commenced service November 2, 2009 with 5 flights weekly via Toronto. New this winter, Transat Holiday will service Barbados with a weekly direct flight from Toronto. Barbados was voted #8 in the World by Trip Advisor’s ‘2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards’ in its Top 100 Destinations category. Follow the Barbados beat and catch up on the latest news via the Barbados Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/VisitBarbados and Twitter at www.twitter.com/Barbados. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org or Call 1-800-268-9122.