No matter the season, visitors to Barbados will likely find a sports festival kicking off at a neighboring field, stadium or stretch of beach. Following are some of the more notable events around the island.

Festival Cricket
Taking place all year long, various Cricket Festivals are populated by players from all over the world, with Barbados representing the home of West Indies cricket. Festivals include the highly-anticipated Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament, ladies tournaments, youth tournaments, Universities tournaments, Masters tournaments, police tournaments, blind cricketers tournaments and of course the feather in the cap of the Caribbean cricket calendar, the Test Match Festival.

Schools Festival
The Sir Garfield Sobers Schools International Tournament is a 17-year-long tradition that exposes school children to the best of Barbados cricket. Taking place in July, the festival is by invitation of Sir Garfield (Sir Gary) only and affords the boys two weeks of cricket as well as a chance to explore their country, its people and its culture.

Festival Football
The football season culminates with the Barbados International Masters Football Festival held on the Whitsuntide weekend in early June. The tournament has grown continually over the past few years and has invited teams from all over the Caribbean, Europe and America. Although a few of the matches take place at Dover on Friday, most of the action centers around the Wanderers Club at Daryll’s Road.

Celtic Festival
Lasting for two weeks around the end of May, Barbados plays host to a number of visiting Celtic dancers, musicians and singers as well as many rugby exchanges, golf tournaments and a humorous Caribbean take on the famous Highland Games. The true heart of the festival is the rugby match. Matches take place around the Garrison on Saturday and the winners take part in the Highland Games the following day.

Gold Cup Festival
In late February and early March, the Gold Cup Festival annually attracts some of the most exciting names on the Caribbean horseracing circuit. This thoroughbred horse race and one-day event is now surrounded by a wealth of social and cultural activities. Racing at the Garrison usually takes place on Saturday with a 1:00 pm start. Other highly publicized and well-attended races include the Barbados Triple Crown, the Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Creole Classic, the United Insurance Derby and the Diamonds International 2-Year-Old Challenge Series.

Polo Open
The Barbados Open is an important date on the polo calendar and interest in this event continues to grow. Smaller traditional competitions are continuing to fill key spots in the Bajan polo season as well. One new series recently added to the season was the Colombian Emeralds Barbados Open that matched six teams led by Bajan polo celebrities.

Field Hockey Festival
The Banks Hockey Festival has a 19-year history, lasts for a week and includes men's, ladies’, mixed and men's veterans competitive streams. Matches throughout the week are at fields all over the island but the first and final games take place at the famous cricket pitch of Kensington Oval.

Rally Carnival
Barbados is home to some serious car aficionados and the motorcar rally is one of the most eagerly anticipated festivals on the island. Rally car racers love to entertain on the course and impressive cornering on the tight roads frequently has spectators holding their collective breath. The award presentation takes place at the Boatyard, a popular club in the midst of the beach party circuit. Fans and drivers alike toast the day's entertainment far into the next day.

The Waterman Festival
The Waterman Festival lasts for three weekends around February and celebrates surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing with an exciting series of competitive events. Activities take place all over the island with most events composed of invited professionals, but amateurs and touring professionals also have the opportunity to participate. Hot social events are the surfer buffet and the sunset "deAction Beach Party" at Talma's Irie Man Action Shop in Silver Rock.