Let the festivities begin! The beautiful island of Barbados celebrates Crop Over, the island's most popular festival, now until August 4th. Crop Over, which dates back to the 1780s when Barbados was one of the world's foremost sugar producers, commemorates the end of the sugar cane season with an exciting and vibrant extravaganza of music & masquerade, heritage and culture. The grand finale, and a universally celebrated national holiday, known as Kadooment Day, occurs Monday, August 4th with a colorful and lively parade of costumed dancers and fireworks.

Crop Over kicks off with a grand opening gala and continues for five weeks of carnival inspired fun. Highlights include the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, on Friday, August 1st, where eight finalists compete for the year's crown and top prizes in an exciting calypso competition. Cohobblopot, taking place on Sunday, August 3rd, allows costume bands to show off their dazzling costumes to the sounds of local calypso hits, while competing for the title of King and Queen of Crop Over for 2008. The final day of the festival culminates with Grand Kadooment, a summer street carnival filled with people dancing to Caribbean Soca music and wearing elaborate multi-colored costumes and body paint.

The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes, including St. Philips beach which was voted one of the world's sexiest beaches for 2008 by Concierge.com. It is the first and only Zagat rated Caribbean island with numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is also an ideal stage for world-class events and has hosted numerous athletic championships, including the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2007 and the 2006 PGA World Golf Championship -- The Barbados World Cup. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfasts to award-winning five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via Air Jamaica, American Airlines, Delta and US Airways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. The Barbados Tourism Authority has provided excellent service for 50 years and is a proud member of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association.