The Barbados 2005 Crop Over Festival is scheduled July 12-August 4.

The festival's roots date back to the 1780s when Barbados was the world's largest sugar producer and a big celebration was always held after the harvest, or when the Crop Over.   

Today, the party lasts for almost five weeks, with most events taking place in Bridgetown.

It opens with a presentation of the last sugar canes to the King and Queen, the best male and female cane cutters.

         Other highlights of the festival include:

     Bridgetown Market where several stalls sell local food and drinks or local arts and crafts. Calypso and live tuk bands perform.

      Cohobblopot where members of the Kadooment bands display their elaborate costumes.

      Kiddies Kadooment, a children's costume parade and competition.

      Folk concerts and art and photographic exhibitions

      Calypso competitions, with calypsonians organized into "tents" sponsored by local businesses. They compete for such titles as Party Monarch, the Road March Monarch and the Pic-O-De-Crop Monarch.

The semi-finals of the Pic-O-De-Crop competition are held at East Coast Road the Atlantic ocean acts as the backdrop to the stage. Spectators bring their own picnic baskets to watch from the hillside.

The carnival parade, known as the Grand Kadooment, is the main highlight. Accompanied by live or recorded but always loud calypso music, everyone marches from the National Stadium to Spring Garden where the party continues with more calypso and plenty of food.

The parade is held during the day, which allows spectators to shoot plenty of photos.

Food booths line the parade route so there's always something to drink or eat readily available.

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