 In a crazy world where we seem to have lost our way a lot of the time, the Tobagonians are a people who quickly remind you of the way it’s supposed to be—being nice to each other, raising children to respect their elders, going to church on Sundays, and they put nature before hotel tower blocks, despite the need for jobs on the island.
Tobago was originally inhabited by Amerindian Indians. Europeans came after and were mainly involved in plantation agriculture, utilising imported African slaves for their lucrative trade. Today the island’s heritage remains predominantly African but it is flavoured by the influences of Amerindian and European cultures. The culture of Tobago is a reflection of a creative and vibrant, ethnically mixed and cosmopolitan society.
 The star attraction is the Heritage Festival, which was first staged in 1987. It spans a two-week period from mid-July to the first day of August each year. During this time Tobagonians embark on a pilgrimage into the cultural hearts of their ancestors. This event is now a true cultural showpiece of the island.
The fest starts and ends with gala opening and the closing performances and parades in Scarborough at the island’s centrally located cultural complex. It is attended by hundreds of locals, dignitaries and visitor and presents highlights of previous years dynamic village productions. Visitors can look forward to an exciting extravaganza during the two weeks of activities that move daily from village to village and enact and celebrate Tobago’s traditions of dance, music, story telling, culture and food.
 The festival expresses the soul of the people and fascinates the thousands who witness this annual phenomenon.
Productions are also staged in the communities throughout this island, allowing patrons to experience the individual village as it comes to life in song, dance, drama and oral tradition..
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