Top Caribbean August Events

Bermuda is not known as a party island, but even in this reserved British colony folks cuts loose a bit for Cup Match, a national holiday where the whole country shuts down for the traditional cricket match between Somerset and St. George (two of Bermuda's parishes). Whether you like cricket or not this is a great time to visit Bermuda if you want to interact with native Bermudians while they cheer on their teams, down Dark 'n Stormys, and roll the dice at the Crown & Anchor tables (a gambling tradition originating with British Navy sailors). There's a carnival atmosphere at the cricket oval itself (the teams take turns hosting the annual event) but you may be hard-pressed to find a restaurant open during the two-day holiday.

The Anguilla Summer Fest, AKA "Sumfest," has been a tradition on Anguilla for more than three decades and is a mix of Carnival, regattas, and concerts. Always held around the first Monday of August, the festival features all of the popular elements of a Caribbean Carnival, including j'ouvert, the crowning of the Carnival king and queen, costumed parades, and plenty of soca and calypso music. Daytime events center on boat racing at Sandy Ground and Meads Bay.

The Turtle Cove Marina is the center of all the action at the annual Turks and Caicos Music Festival, which attracts world-class musical stars like Lionel Richie and Anita Baker but also features comedians and storytellers on the cultural side of the program. In addition to four nights of concerts you'll enjoy a regatta, a conch-blowing contest, and local food and crafts on TCI Cultural Day.

Crop Over is a five-week summer festival honoring the harvest of Barbados' sugar-cane crop, and it culminates in August with the Grand Kadooment -- a huge carnival parade with spectacular costumes and calypso music that ends at the beach in true Caribbean style. The Kadooment bands also show off their costumes at Cohobbelpot, a festival in its own right with music, food, and lots of dancing!