Discover Trinidad & Tobago 2016 — 25th Anniversary Edition

The Tobago Jazz Experience
Each year, the last week of April, jazz is everywhere:
on the beach, in bars and lounges,
in parks, all around the island. The Tobago
Jazz Experience features some of the best
local and regional jazz, soca and world music
talents, alongside pop, R&B, hip-hop,
and soul stars from around the world.
Previous events have attracted John
Legend, Jill Scott, Jennifer Hudson, Kool &
the Gang, Angie Stone, Janelle Monae, Chaka
Khan, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Mary J.
Blige, Sting, Diana Ross, Erykah Badu, India.
Arie, and George Benson. Speyside, Signal
Hill, Scarborough, Castara and Pigeon Pt
Heritage Park are key venues, some of which
host free events.
Visual arts
There is a small but impressive
visual arts community in Tobago,
with some lovely museums and
galleries (some of which we
recommend in our Sightseeing
section). Look for the Kimme
Museum (Bethel); the Tobago
Museum (Scarborough); and The
Art Gallery (Lowlands). Some
Tobago-born artists to note: Jim
Armstrong, Kevin Ayoung-Julien,
Marcia Des Vignes, Edward Hernandez,
David Knott, Earl Manswell,
and Jason Nedd.
Culinary Festival
Each May/June, this free international culinary
event invites you to sample dishes
from around the world, especially those native
to Tobago, in the Pigeon Pt Heritage Park.
The island’s best chefs and cooks compete in
culinary skills contests, while the bar-men face
off in a mixology contest. A wine zone features
both local and international wines.
Heritage Festival
The biggest festival on Tobago’s
cultural calendar, running two
weeks from mid-July and
culminating on Emancipation
Day (1 August). Started
in 1987, and with a different
theme each year, it is dedicated
to preserving the cultural traditions
of the island. The action moves nightly
from village to village, with communities
presenting local traditions of dance, drama,
music, storytelling and food. Typical presentations
are the Ole Time Tobago Wedding in Moriah,
Folk Tales and Superstitions in Golden Lane and Les Coteaux,
Games We Used to Play, the Salaka Feast and Invocation Dance.
Janelle Monae performs at the Tobago Jazz Festival. Photo courtesy the Division of Tourism & Transportation
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