Longer Crop-Over

FROM NEXT YEAR Barbados will have four months for Crop-Over.

This and a number of other changes were announced by Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley today at the launch of next year’s festival that will essentially begin on April 14 and run until August 18.

Lashley said the changes were coming at the conclusion of a number of stakeholders meetings on the 2011 festival, and among the major changes will be a shift in dates for the Pic-O-De-Crop semi-finals and finals to put a two week period between preparations for these major competitions; as well as the return of the Grand Kadooment, the finals and Cohobblopot to the National Stadium.

“The greatest change in Crop-Over 2012, I think, will be the return to the mecca of calypso, the National Stadium, a venue long synonymous with Crop-Over and with the Pic-O-De-Crop competition.”

Noting that refurbishment of the stadium was already underway to provide better acoustics, new washrooms and upgrades to a number of other amenities, he said they had chosen to return to the venue because of the atmosphere it provides.

The last finals were held at the venue in 2007, with the semi-finals last being hosted there on a wet night in 2010.

“The feedback from our constituents indicates that the stadium is the venue of choice for the Pic-O-De-Crop competition, as the intimate environment allows the calypsonians to get closer to their fans and really ‘feel the crowd’,” Lashley said.

Additionally, he said there would be four mini-Kadooments in the four zones of the island, beginning with the west on April 14 in St. James, from Holders Hill to Folkestone Marine Park. The mini-Kadooments will be interspersed by four Cavalcades again this year in Briar Hall, Christ Church; Checker Hall, St. Lucy; Six Roads, St. Philip and at the National Stadium, beginning on May 12.

“[In] addition to the very popular community Cavalcades, four mini-Kadooments in the north, south, east and west zones of the island will also be introduced. They will be produced and run by community committees under the supervision of the National Cultural Foundation.”

These smaller Kadooments, he said, were aimed at taking Crop-Over back to the community, as well as creating a greater interest in Grand Kadooment. It was also intended to encourage more involvement and creativity in the masquerade process, than currently exists with the intention of having a higher quality and number of bands on Grand Kadooment, he noted.

Local masqueraders on the other hand will get their wish to return to the National Stadium on Kadooment Day for the parade of bands through the venue. There will also be a festival village at the Stadium catering to masqueraders and bands.

The Junior Monarch Competition and Junior Kadooment will also be separated, with the former to take place on July 21 and the other the following Saturday on July 28. Lashley said this was done to facilitate vendors who wanted the opportunity to work both events.

As for other new events, there are plans for additional folk and gospel activities next year, along with a plantation feast and a night-time heritage tour.

“The Plantation Crop-Over Feast, an event which was very popular in early plantation days, will be reintroduced. We propose to recreate the atmosphere of that feast in the yard of a great house, complete with vintage costumes and all,” he said.

Lashley added: “There will be, for instance, a night tour that will transport patrons back to the Bridgetown of a by-gone era when iconic characters roamed the city streets. Other events will also provide attractive opportunities for Barbadians to learn more about Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison.”

The Emancipation period that traditionally falls within the last days of the festival will be tied into Crop-Over for 2012 with a national day of significance being celebrated under the festival calendar.

Story from Barbados Today http://news.barbadostoday.bb/barticlenew.php?ptitle=Longer%20Crop-Over&article=11851

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