Every day is like a holiday in Tobago. There’s something very calming about the island. You feel it as soon as you step off the plane or ferry. But I’m going to talk about what it’s like to be here during public or general holidays. It’s not quite the same as being in Trinidad, where the experience is far more hectic and vibrant.
Take Christmas, for instance. I enjoyed Christmas with family as always. And there were a few instances where houses decorated their outsides to the extreme. But there were no street decorations or the profusion of Christmas trees peeking from homes. There were, however, a number of Christmas concerts and the light decorations in the Botanical Gardens in Scarborough were spectacular.
The THA (Tobago House of Assembly) put on a number of events in the Gardens. I attended a dance and sax show one evening. It was due to start at 7pm and we arrived a little after that time. The person at the gate commented that we were early. I am learning that, in Tobago, the time advertised for an event is the time you should think of leaving home! So we got front row seats while late patrons had to stand at the back. I could not get over how gorgeous were the light displays around the gardens.
The first act was a line dancing group who had us mesmerised with their in-synch movements to mostly latin tunes. They then persuaded members of the audience to join them in well known choreographed songs. A very talented saxophonist followed and the dance troupe soon began dancing free style to his music. The audience also joined in and it was a really fun evening for everyone. There was a good selection of food, juices and soft drinks on sale, as well as a few craft items. A lovely experience.
Later in the season I attended an outdoor movie experience at the same Botanical Gardens. Again, it was a magical experience, sitting on our beach chairs surrounded by happy families on chairs or blankets, enjoying the brilliantly-lit gardens. It was reported that 3,000 to 4,000 people were there, but I never felt it was overcrowded. Of course, the first movie started half an hour late and it was enjoyable – Jingle Jangle. There was a break before the second movie – New Years Eve. But as it was already 9pm, we decided to leave at that point. It is great that there were so many family-friendly events at Christmas time.
During this holiday period, there were quite a few fireworks here and there, and those awful scratch bombs. The bigger hotels put on Ole Years Night parties, and I had a blast seeing in the New Year at the Crown Point Hotel. Wonderful ambiance and great food too!
Parang does not seem to be a big deal in Tobago, as it is in Trinidad. Luckily, a friend of mine hosts a parang party every Christmas season. The band members turn up with their instruments and are fed and given drinks as is the tradition. This year, some members were absent but it was still a lovely evening.
Now it’s Carnival time which can’t possibly be compared with the exuberance of Trinidad Carnival “the greatest show on earth”. There is a J’ouvert and Parade of the Bands on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. And there will be some steel pan, no doubt, as Tobago always scores well in the small and medium Panorama competitions. But I think of this Pre-Lenten Carnival in Tobago as thousands of Trinis crammed onto the beaches for the four-day weekend. It’s the busiest weekend of the year in Tobago!
Forty days later, there is Easter with traditional kite flying. And goat racing. It amuses me to see the boys running with their goats along the back roads, as they train for the Buccoo Goat and Crab Races. This I have described in detail here.
After Easter comes the Summer Holidays (not that we have Summer in this tropical isle). The island is once again filled with noisy Trinis, enjoying the beaches, having parties, etc. The annual Tobago Heritage Festival takes place all over the island from mid-August for a few weeks. There are lots of activities (dance, music, food, oral traditions, etc.) to showcase the culture of various communities. The most famous is the Ole Time Wedding ceremony in Moriah. I would love to witness this, but the crowds are intense in a small space and parking is an issue. The traditional wedding characters are portrayed at other events in Tobago, though. I especially enjoyed the pan concerts during the festival, as described here.
Then, of course, Tobago now has its own Carnival at the end of October. I describe the inaugural event in 2022 here. Tobagonians are justifiably proud of their heritage. It seems that there is always something cultural happening in this island, and I want to experience it all. I love all the holiday celebrations in Tobago!
