BWU ‘gatherin’: May Day family fête for St John

The Barbados Workers’ Union has chosen St John’s Pool Woods to host its annual May Day Family Fun Day for the first time, heralding a month of community-focused events tied to the national We Gatherin’ initiative.

The relocation from the National Botanical Gardens to the rural parish promises a day of music, local enterprise showcases, and family activities, with organisers emphasising enhanced space, natural shade, and a stronger community atmosphere.

The year-long We Gatherin’ programme, which highlights a different parish each month, features St John throughout May under the theme of Community. General Secretary Toni Moore said the union was proud to set the tone by relocating its flagship event to the rural parish.

“This year we are very excited about May Day,” Moore told reporters during a site visit on Friday. “Everything we had at the [National] Botanical Gardens you can see here — and even greater. Thicker trees mean better shade, more space for families, and a real community feel.”

Chair of We Gatherin’ St John, Danielle Bishop, welcomed the collaboration, describing the move to Pool Woods as a “meaningful milestone”.

“We are very excited for this partnership. We know that May Day celebrations by the BWU are very grand, so bringing it to St John, to Pool Woods of all places, I think is very iconic,” she said. “It’s going to be the first time we’re using this location for such a great event. I think it’s a wonderful partnership.”

Under the banner Bet Who Bet You, the May 1 event, starting at 9 a.m., will feature performances by The Barbados Police Service Band, top Crop Over artistes, a workers’ village showcasing small businesses, a children’s zone, domino tournament, and mixology competition. The National Cultural Foundation’s event producer, Karen Pestaina, said the transformed Pool Woods offers amenities comparable to the Botanical Gardens in a “greener, more expansive setting”.

Pestaina also addressed parking concerns, confirming arrangements would accommodate attendees.

Bruce Lee Almighty, Tian Hernandez, Sanctuary Vibes, Coco, Red Plastic Bag, and Adrian Clarke are among the performers scheduled, blending soca and kaiso throughout the day.

BWU officials confirmed security would be prioritised, with teams from The Barbados Police Service and the security firm G4S ensuring safety. Special bus services are to run from major terminals to the venue.

“Get here early,” Moore urged. “People are going to be picking their picnic spots from early. It’s going to be an amazing day.”

(SM)