Despite ongoing concerns about the rising cost of Grand Kadooment costumes, several revellers on the road Monday said the experience delivered value for money, with some insisting the celebration was worth every dollar.
Among them were Zell and Ortez Hurley, who travelled from the United Kingdom to celebrate Crop Over with Aura Experience. Speaking to Barbados TODAY during the Grand Kadooment parade, the pair described this year’s festival as unforgettable.
Asked about the cost of their costumes, they said each outfit cost “about £500”.
Zell and Ortez Hurley with Aura Band. (Photo credit: Shamar Blunt / Barbados TODAY)
Beyond Grand Kadooment, the couple embraced several events on the Crop Over calendar.
“The Sundown [fete] was free when you’re with Aura. We also did the breakfast fete with Island Mas, and Tuesday we are doing Cohobblopot because she never experienced Cohobblopot before,” Hurley said.
While looking forward to the show, Hurley admitted he was surprised that Cohobblopot had been moved from its traditional Sunday night slot.
“It was kind of a shock to me seeing that I grew up here. Cohobblopot was on Sunday… you get to see the kings and queens of the bands’ costumes and the kings and queens of soca sing the night before and then you just get ready for Monday, which is jump-up day. So to hear it’s on Tuesday was kind of different. It takes away from the traditional [lead into] Kadooment Day setting… but we’ll see how it goes. I’m looking forward to it anyway.”
Overall, however, he said the festival had been running smoothly.
“I haven’t seen any mishaps or anything like that right now, so it’s pretty good.”
First-time Crop Over visitor Roshae Daniel, from Queens, New York, whose family is of Bajan heritage, also spared no expense for the occasion, purchasing Aura’s VIP package at a cost of nearly US$2 000.
“I asked around and they said Aura was the best band to jump with,” she said. “It was my first Crop Over… so go big or go home.”
For Daniel, the investment was worthwhile. “It was totally worth it. They brought food, they gave us lots of goodie bags, cups, all kinds of accessories that are so beneficial. I’d do it again 1 000 times.”
Determined to experience as much of Crop Over as possible, she attended Neon Jouvert and Sun Mas before Grand Kadooment.
“I love the culture, the sense of community… it was really fun,” she said, adding with a laugh: “I met Spice, so that was cool. Hopefully I get to see Rihanna.”
Daniel, who is staying at Sugar Bay, also praised the hotel’s hospitality, saying its wide range of vegetarian options had exceeded her expectations.
(SB)
