Cup Match takes place on the last Thursday and Friday in July or the first Thursday and Friday in August, with the following weekend tacked on for good measure. The holiday is hooked on history: it pays homage to Emancipation Day—August 1, 1834, marked the end of slavery in Bermuda—and Somers Day, named for the island’s English founder, Admiral Sir George Somers. Both are celebrated with a full lineup of events, at the heart of which is cricket.
Photo courtesy of the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
The two-day tournament sees the island swathed in competing banners for the rival cricket clubs: navy and light blue for St. George’s, navy and red for Somerset. Both teams battle for victory—and bragging rights—with the game attracting thousands to alternate club grounds every year. Before, during and after, you can enjoy a jam-packed itinerary, meet scores of Bermudians… and maybe even get your head around some cricket jargon. Here’s how it plays out.
Cup Match eve is celebrated with a rousing nighttime concert in Hamilton featuring top acts from the world of soca and reggae (this year sees performances by Major Lazer and Grammy-nominated DJ Jillionaire of Trinidad). Tickets can be bought online in advance. More information is available at cupmatchsummersplash.com.
Crowds of Bermudians head to the beach for Cup Match’s opening day. Southampton’s Horseshoe Bay is one of the most popular meccas, offering a panacea to the mid-summer temperatures with its turquoise rollers and plethora of nearby coves. Locals gather to swim, dance, drink, barbecue, play volleyball, and socialize. But no matter which parish you choose, the entire coastline is packed with revelers staying cool.
New this year is a harborfront concert in Hamilton, featuring reggae star Wayne Wonder and Bermudian reggae star Mishka. Staged at No. 1 carpark on the city’s waterside (next to the ferry terminal), the event kicks off at 9pm. Tickets (regular $60, VIP $100) are available at www.ptix.bm.
Soak up Bermuda’s sporting and multicultural heritage at the game. Aside from the vagaries of cricket, which the locals will diligently explain, crowds enjoy sampling the smorgasbord of comfort fare (mac ’n’ cheese, peas ’n’ rice, mussel pies) and trying their luck at Crown & Anchor at the only time of year gambling is permitted. The all-day action draws a melting pot from all walks of life, from the British Governor and parish politicians to artists, fishermen, and children. Before long, you’ll have been invited to share picnics and rum inside a family’s bleacher space. Convivial crowds are a big part of the charm.
Now that everyone’s in the holiday mood, this annual post-Cup Match concert is a fitting wrap to the sun-baked game. Bands battle it out on stage and the crowd decides who wins. Held at alternate ends of the island (in sync with the cricket location each year), this well-organized event is usually staged at Tiger Bay, St. George’s, or Snorkel Park, Dockyard.
Take time to sleep in and prepare yourself for Sunday’s festivities. Enjoy beaching, snorkeling, and sightseeing. Travel to the Royal Naval Dockyard and Gibbs Hill Lighthouse to see parts of Bermuda that tell the island’s story. Check out Cup Match campsites along the South Shore or visit Cooper’s Island, St. George’s, a peaceful peninsula of pristine beaches, for a great way to chill out in readiness for ensuing Cup Match fun.
There’s nothing quite like this event anywhere. Kicking off around 10am, boats leave Hamilton Harbour and other ports to head up to Mangrove Bay, Somerset Village. No matter whether you’re aboard an elegant catamaran or a Boston Whaler, there’s something for everyone. Even landlubbers can enjoy the mayhem. What’s billed as the largest raft-up in the world gathers in Mangrove Bay to witness a race of home-crafted, satirical floats that comically snipe at Bermuda politics, and other island-themed challenges. Swim up to nearby boats and you’ll be offered a piece of jerk chicken or a dark ‘n’ stormy—pretend you’re a local and partake.
