Barbados Crop Over 2024: New Route Revealed for 50th Grand Kadooment Day
by Karen Rollins Apr 15, 2024
Revellers taking part in Barbados’ 50th Grand Kadooment parade on Monday 5 August 2024 will be taking a new route, it has been announced by the organisers.
Speaking during a media launch at Illaro Court for the Season of Emancipation and Crop Over 2024, President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders, Jason Thompson, outlined the changes which he said, “would make things better for most stakeholders”.
The new Grand Kadooment route will start in Bridgetown at the Helipad carpark, proceed to President Kennedy Drive via Princess Alice Highway and Prescod Boulevard, move up Eagle Hall junction and onto Black Rock Main Road, and end on the Mighty Grynner Highway. Bands will also enter the newly refurbished Kensington Oval for judging.
Mr Thompson told local media: “We saw it as a need for wider roads, based on the experience that many of our bandleaders would like to offer to their masqueraders.
“We recognise that the spectators are forced to stand on the smaller roads and therefore there was a need for party zones…areas where persons can purchase from a stall, listen to some music, and enjoy themselves within that space while they are waiting for the other bands to pass.”
Another change announced for Crop Over 2024, is the location of Bridgetown Craft Market which has been previously located on the Mighty Grynner Highway.
The National Cultural Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Carol Roberts, announced that the market will now run over four Fridays during the Crop Over season at four different locations including Pelican Village and Golden Square Freedom Park. The first craft market will take place on Friday 28 June.
Crop Over Season 2024 officially lasts from 31 May to 5 August.
