One of Crop Over’s signature events will be undergoing changes this year.
Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, John King revealed a rebirth of Bridgetown Market, which runs from August 5 to 8.
The theme for the annual cultural arts and Craft Street fair, will follow “Come see the world at Bridgetown Market”.
Minister King made the disclosure during the fourth annual First Citizens Crop Over Xplosion, at the King George V Memorial Park, St Philip on Saturday evening.
He said the market will feature a techno-interactive pop up museum sponsored by the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. The Flower Mill site will be host to an international food fair, a car show and also ‘100 per cent Bajan stalls and Craft Villages”.
“The objective is to spark renewed interest in and by extension boost sales for many of the vendors on site,” King said.
“The strategy behind this rebirth was conceptualized to give patrons more options for activities, taking into consideration the dynamics of the demographics now attending the event.”
He went on to reveal that an international Latin Dance Festival and Chinese Cultural Show will also be incorporated into the Bridgetown Market.
During his feature address, the Minister stressed that the Crop Over Festival was a major economic earner that possessed great expansion capabilities.
“The Barbados Crop Over Festival remains one of those main drivers for economic growth in the industry. It is a lifeline in the generation of employment for not only the entertainment sector, but also to the many tributaries of supporting services and enterprises,” said King.
“It is the core to the current cultural tourism offerings and therefore it is vital that we recreate a model for the festival that gives us a strengthened market positions and a competitive advantage against expanding list of options for carnival goers around the globe to exert their all important spending power.”
Very good thinking.
It is so refreshing to have ‘Outside-the-box’ ideas.
Nice,long time I said something needed to be done about Bridgetown market. More activities than sales of food.The festival has been reduced to a street stroll,plastic toy party and a catwalk at night .
More vegetable and true market varieties are needed
More demonstration and a,true Barbadian atmosphere of activities.
Though it is not a giveaway some of the prices need to come down.
Even if the artist display prints or some of their less expensive work. The buyers know at least where to contact them for more work.
We can truly make BM a must attend event for all .Looking forward to the additions.
These plans were long in the works before the elections. The theme ‘Come see the world at BM’ was definitely in place. On a sidenote, I dont know where these does get these corny ridiculous long names from…
This was the whole plan of the NCF for this year’s Crop Over Festival. He is just giving voice to what was already in the works. These events are planned from the moment the Festival ends the year before the staff of the NCF starts planning for the next year. That is why it is so organised and runs so smoothly. Kudos to the wonderful work the NCF Team does year after year.
Yuh mean Johnny King taking Credit for what was already a done deal
NCF still Government and those working before elections still working after elections. whosoever in power still have to continue the work at NCF.
Pelican Village still left out in the COLD.
Folks government is a continuation. I drove up the south coast road (from bay street to Oistins) NOT A DROP OF SEWAGE to be seen. This administration merely continued what was already being done by the last administration. The same thing will happen to the HYATT project. As we go on we are going to find out that the last administration tried their best to manage the country in very difficult and trying times. Just wait and see.
Tennyson you have no shame.