Cricket Cup Match in Bermuda
Don’t worry if you can’t fathom a “maiden over” or a “googly”—Cup Match is still the best fun you can have in Bermuda all year. Make a long midsummer weekend of Bermuda’s favorite public holiday, which is scheduled around an East-versus-West-End cricket match and provides an authentic immersion in all things “Bermy.” From beaching and boating to al fresco dance parties wrapped in swizzle-infused bonhomie, Cup Match is an authentically Bermudian festival.
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.
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.
Wednesday (July 29): Summer Splash
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.
Thursday (July 30): Game Day (first day of Cup Match)
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.
Thursday night: Emancipation Celebration Concert
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.
Friday (July 31): Game Day (second Day of Cup Match)
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.
Friday night: Soca vs. Reggae Concert
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.
Saturday (August 1): “Rest day”
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.
Sunday (August 2): Non-Mariners’ Race
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.
Travel essentials:
- Plan and book in advance if possible. Airlines sell out seats around these dates, and Bermuda hotels and guesthouses fill up fast. Even charter and rental boats are booked months ahead of this blockbuster weekend.
- Check gotobermuda.com for details on all Cup Match events. To book tickets for Summer Splash or Soca vs Reggae concerts, go to bdatix.bm.