Holetown Festival

Holetown Festival

Begins in mid-February

The British were not the first European settlers to establish themselves on the Caribbean island of Barbados, but they were the first to remain permanently after they settled in February 1627. The Holetown Festival, which takes place in the historic town of the same name, marks the approximate date of English settlement. A weeklong celebration of history and culture, the festival has been an annual event since 1977.
The opening celebrations are held at the Holetown Monument, which commemorates the settlers' landing. Over the course of the week there are fashion shows, beauty contests, exhibitions, folksongs, an antique car parade, and a carnival at the festival fairgrounds.
Festival organizers ensure that music is integral to the celebration and that a balance exists between the old and the new, the indigenous and the Western. Along with music concerts showcasing authentic Caribbean music and dancing, there are traditional hymns, folksongs, a music festival at the historic St. James Church, and a concert by the Royal Barbados Police Band, in existence since 1889.

CONTACTS:
Barbados Tourism Authority
800 2nd Ave., # 2
New York, NY 10017
212-986-6516
www.visitbarbados.org

SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 29