April-May

Tobago Jazz,
Music and Golf Weekend
April 30–May 3

A weekend experience like no other: golfing on the lush greens of Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, listening to smooth jazz on a Caribbean coastline, and liming or “chilling out” with warm-up and cool-down events. This is the Tobago Jazz, Music and Golf Weekend, as the island continues to cement itself as the premier tourist destination for jazz.

This elevated island experience has something for everyone: internationals, diasporans, and locals alike. The weekend features golfing, a back-in-time welcome party “Come Een”, the headliner event “Beachfront Jazz” and, finally, “Fairways Jazz Under the Stars”.

Performers include Caribbean folk music bassist Ron Reid, soca royalty Terri Lyons, soul soprano Llettesha Sylvester, award-winning saxophonist Jazmin Ghent and jazz guitarist Theron Shaw. Tobago Jazz has long been a staple for jazz aficionados and vacation-goers alike, and with this year’s talented line-up of artistes, it promises to be another spectacular experience.

July-August

Tobago Heritage Festival
July 1–August 1

The Tobago Heritage Festival is the very definition of celebrating one’s roots. This festival has been around for almost 40 years, spurred by a growing number of attendees and participants, all eager to experience what makes Tobago a cultural treasure.

Tobago’s culture is a rich tapestry of traditions woven from the island’s diverse occupants – from the First People to formerly-enslaved Africans and colonial rulers like the Dutch, French, British and Spanish. Daily events tell the island’s story: “Dancing the Cocoa” like they did on the plantations, re-enactments of slave uprisings, “ole time” weddings, drumming circles and competitions, and re-telling of haunting folk tales, to name a few. There’s even a Miss Tobago Heritage Personality contest, which recognises beauty, talent and women who give back to their communities.

This immersive festival culminates on Emancipation Day (August 1) with theatrical productions and a street parade, in recognition of the day enslaved Africans gained their freedom almost two centuries ago.

‍

‍

October

Tobago Blue Food Festival
October 18

Calling all foodies! Imagine a food fest dedicated to one main ingredient: dasheen, also known as taro root or “blue food” for its bluish colour when cooked. This root vegetable gets the spotlight annually at the Tobago Blue Food Festival in Bloody Bay.

You may be surprised to learn of dasheen’s versatility. It’s not just good for your health, it’s good in almost anything! At the festival, you can find dasheen in curries, bread, ice cream, drinks, fries, sauces, stews, fritters, wine and probably in dishes we haven’t even thought of yet. The event is about more than food; it’s a showcase of creativity and innovation as local chefs also compete for recognition.

The festival is a chance to enjoy dasheen delicacies, sample traditional dishes, buy local crafts and enjoy live music. The Blue Food Festival is the place where agriculture and tourism intersect, creating a one-of-a-kind event found nowhere else in the world.

‍

Tobago Heritage Festival

Between the Dutch, French and English, Tobago has changed hands more times than a rugby ball in a scrum, resulting in an incredibly rich culture. The Tobago Heritage Festival is an ode to the food, drink, music, dance, and art bequeathed by our ancestors over the centuries.

Take part in the re-enactment of an old-time Tobago Wedding, complete with lavishly garbed bride, groom and wedding party, as they do the heel-and-toe down the street alongside a live band. Appreciate the grace of Bélé dancers as they float like blossoms to the beat of African drums. Amateur griots recount their stories while dramatists take to the stage to make you laugh or weep.

Watch foods being prepared the old way; crunchy loaves baked in clay ovens, and sugar cane pressed of sweet juices while you wait.

‍

‍