Thinking of booking a holiday to Barbados in May or June 2023? If so, you’re in for a real treat. Besides the fantastic range of interesting places and exciting activities, late spring also offers the opportunity to attend a wide range of unique events. Here are some you can look forward to.
Barbados Celtic Festival
It is not widely known that from the mid-1600s, many people from Scotland and Ireland went to Barbados to work on the sugar plantations. Some went as indentured servants, while others were forcibly transported as prisoners of war. Many settled there and because of this, to this day the island has a proud Celtic history and culture. The Barbados Celtic Festival, 18th – 21st May, celebrates this heritage and the richness of the wider Celtic culture.
Featuring live performances from leading Celtic bands, choirs and musicians, including World Champion Piper, Roddy McCleod MBE, and culminating in a massed band parade, this is a festival not to be missed.
Silk Road Music Festival
Taking place on 20th May, this eagerly anticipated annual music event brings together an eclectic mix of Bajan, Caribbean and international artists, showcasing music from a broad range of genres, cultures and traditions. Artists booked for 2023 include Nialah, Father Phillis, Krisirie, Sivers, Sonny Mekari, 2irie, Blk Spring, Arturo Tappin, Tuk Band and more.
In addition to the music, you’ll also find live DJ events, fashion shows, including the new summer collection by Rhaj Paul, and other arts and entertainment activities. The festival supports a number of important charities.
Barbadian Premier League Matches at the National Stadium
As the European football season draws to a close, fans visiting the island will be pleased to know that top-level games are still being played in Barbados. During May and June, two Barbados Premiership League games are taking place at the National Stadium, in St Michael. These are Silver Sands vs UWI Blackbirds on Thursday 18th May and Ellerton vs Wotton on Sunday, 18th June. A great way to round off the day, both events take place in the evening when the temperatures are a little cooler.
Barbados Chocolate, Pastry & Wine Festival
Taking place in the capital, Bridgetown, Barbados Chocolate, Pastry & Wine Festival is an annual celebration of everything sweet, savoury and delicious, including chocolates, pastries, sweets and wines. This year, it takes place on 6th June.
It features some of the best local, regional, and international chocolatiers, confectioners, pastry chefs, bakers and wine-makers, bringing you a tastebud experience you’ll never forget. You’ll be able to tuck into the many free samples and make purchases too.
Fun for all the family, there’s also musical entertainment, competitions, contests, and children’s activities. And if all that tasting has you tempted to give it a go yourself, you can join in one of the many workshops taking place, including chocolate and cake making and chocolate modelling.
Garrison Historic Tours
Part of Old Bridgetown’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, St Ann’s Garrison is a British military complex dating back to 1650, with buildings mainly from the 18th and 19th Centuries. It’s one of the most intact British colonial garrisons of its age in existence.
Throughout May and June, there are plenty of guided walking tours to take in this exceptional historic area. Highlights of these include a visit to George Washington House (the only place outside of the US where George Washington lived), the Garrison Tunnels, St. Ann’s Fort and the National Armoury with its collection of 17th Century arms and cannons.
Oistins Friday Fish Fry
Oistins Friday Fish Fry is a Barbadian institution and something every visitor should experience – even if you don’t eat fish. Essentially, it’s a street party where the guests can treat themselves to every variety of traditional Bajan and Caribbean food you can think of, all available from a range of independent street food shacks. You’ll also find a wide variety of drinks on offer, from Caribbean fruit drinks to cold beers, great wines and those famous rum cocktails. Meanwhile, you can browse through the myriad of arts and crafts stalls, chat with friends or simply watch the world go by, all to the beat of live music. It’s on every Friday – don’t miss it.
Where to stay
If you want to make the most of low-season bargains, check out this luxury Barbados resort – Royal Westmoreland. With just 250 exclusive villas and apartments sprinkled across a magnificent 750-acre gated estate, luxury and privacy are guaranteed. Besides incredible accommodation, you’ll have a housekeeper, a personal chef service and a well-connected concierge to ensure your every need is catered for.
What’s more, you’ll also have exclusive use of the resort’s world-class amenities, including a championship-class golf course, state-of-the-art gym and floodlit tennis courts. There are several excellent places to eat and drink, including a colonial-style Club House and a nearby private Beach Club at Mullins Beach.
For more information, visit Royal Westmoreland’s Holidays Page. If you are considering a visit during May or June, check out their Taste of the Caribbean offer.