Crop Over artisan pop up hits Bridgetown

Bridgetown Market is back with a bang in 2023, representing a key component of the Crop Over Festival.

This year, the team at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has coordinated at least five big days of shopping for authentic Barbadian artisanal works of art and craft, culinary delights, produce, topped off with live entertainment, workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, as well as fun educational and historical enactments for the entire family.

There will be health checks, a heritage exhibition, road tennis, socarobics with the inimitable Spinny, live performances, and a chance for the late starters to buy Kadooment Day costumes.

Starting this Saturday on July 29, the first Bridgetown Market Pop Up comes alive with the first of two all-day Pop-Up Markets, where activities will focus on central areas of the historic city – mainly at Golden Square Freedom Park.

The Pop Up Markets were introduced to the Crop Over calendar and was a success among creatives who plied their trade at the events held at Golden Square.

Andre Hoyte, Senior Business Development Officer and producer of Bridgetown Market 2023 hailed the coordination between the NCF and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) to encourage more people and economic activity to Bridgetown.

There will be shopping specials at select locations and Bridgetown Duty Free will be opened till 6 p.m.

Golden Square, a large public space in The City, will be transformed into huge pop-up markets commencing from 10 a.m. through to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

From mid-morning, the island’s full range of artisans producing jewellery, pottery, basketry, local wines, sweet treats, natural hair products, make-up, works of art, carvings, leather goods, apparel, locally made candles and a range of gift items will be on sale at Golden Square.

“We know we are going to have waves of shopping. Some will go early in the morning and get their vegetables. Then you have those shoppers who come mid-morning around 10,” Hoyte explained.

The day’s entertainment includes: Pannist Mark Forde who will be at Bridgetown Duty Free, a sunset concert featuring Cultural Ambassador The Most Honourable Anthony Gabby Carter, Cultural Ambassador The Most Honourable Stetson RPB Wiltshire, TC, Kyrique Alleyne, Asanta, Shaqua, Junior Monarch Tae, Christ Church Foundation School Steel Orchestra, Trumpet Boy Entertainment and more.

Parents are also encouraged to bring the children to witness the historic open-air painting where a major art installation will be created telling the story of the Crop Over Festival.

Connecting activities will be occurring in other popular city streets such as Broad Street at Bridgetown Duty Free and Swan Street by Abed’s where strolling minstrels will bring history to life with music, reenactments, and representations, and DJs will keep shoppers entertained.

Workshops in the art of pottery and traditional sweet making, warri potta, while food will be on sale and NCF/Barbados Museum Crop Over heritage display will take you down memory lane.

Other locations such as Cheapside and Fairchild Street markets will be alive with shopping and at the BARVEN Market, special celebrations to commemorate Emancipation Day will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday. The traditional Bridgetown Market on the Mighty Grynner Highway will take place on August 5, 6, 7, and the last lap event of August 12. (PR)