This Winter Barbados is Hotter Than Ever!

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Barbados is sizzling with excitement, as one of today's hottest pop stars, Barbadian Rihanna, returned home on Thursday, February 21st for a celebratory bash of her Grammy win. Simultaneously, this winter, Barbados is host to Holders Season, the island's "Biggest Social Event of the Year."

A variety of world-class music and theatrical performances, ranging from opera to comedy, are lined up in this year's Holders program providing the ultimate sensory experience. The annual performing arts festival, scheduled to last until March 15, 2008, is held at the breathtaking Holders House in Barbados and has previously been graced by legends including: Pavarotti, Sir Tim Rice and Lesley Garrett.

Holders Season is hosted by the renowned Wendy Kidd, mother to Jodie and Gemma Kidd -- the UK's current super-model of choice plus ingenue/Countess, respectively. The festival is held in the extensive grounds of Wendy's exquisite home, the Holders House, where she regularly entertains British royalty and hosts countless Polo tournaments.

The 2008 Holders season brings a wide range of festive sights and sounds, from the West End and Broadway musical, to the rhythms of the French Caribbean. Highlights include a Holders Season favorite, Chicago's 2nd City Touring Company described as "the world's greatest comedy theatre!" Laugh- out-loud comedy giants include Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. In a major coup for Holders, the latest crop of comic talents brings their remarkable brand of improvised humor to the magical garden.

    The current schedule of events is:

     Tuesday, February 26th
     From Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (London) - Much Ado About Nothing

     Thursday, February 28th
     Kit and the Widow

     Friday, February 29th
     From Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (London) - Much Ado About Nothing

     Saturday, March 1st
     The Piano - Keyboard Kings Ben "Boogie Woogie" Waters + The David Rees
                 Williams Trio

     Monday, March 3rd
     Barbados Heart and Stroke Foundation

     Tuesday, March 4th
     Classical Double Mill Bravo!

     Thursday, March 6th
     Comedy Night 2nd City Touring Co. Chicago

     Saturday, March 8th (9pm-10pm)
     6pm-8pm Calling All Kids
     9pm-10pm Poetry on the Gallery - Love is all around

     Tuesday, March 11th
     The Piano 2 - Featuring Simon Mulligan

     Thursday, March 13th
     Gospel and Blues Night with The Campbell Brothers

     Saturday, March 15th
     Gala Night - Direct from New Orleans - The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Ticket prices start from $15 per person. For more information on Holders Season, visit www.holders.net.

The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes ranging from rolling waves on the Atlantic to those gently lapping the Caribbean coast. It is the first and only Zagat rated Caribbean island with numerous internationally-renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is also an ideal stage for world- class events and has hosted numerous athletic championships, including the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2007 and the 2006 PGA World Golf Championship -- The Barbados World Cup. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfasts to award-winning five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via Air Jamaica, American Airlines, Delta and US Airways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. The island's official website is www.visitbarbados.org. For more information, contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1.800.221.9831.