What is the Tobago Heritage Festival Presents: “Games We Use to Play” All About?

In a world now dominated by Wi-Fi, smartphones, and social media scrolling, it’s easy to forget a time when fun was simple, interactive, and powered by imagination, not electronics.

For those born in the golden era of long ago, right up through the 80s and early 90s, childhood wasn’t about screen time. It was about outside time.

Back then, the outdoors was our playground. Streets, backyards, beaches, and open fields were transformed into spaces of joy and community.

We ran, skipped, hopped, clapped, and sang our way through the days, often until the sun set and someone called us home.

That is exactly what the Tobago Heritage Festival’s "Games We Use to Play" is all about—a cultural tribute to the timeless, memory-filled games of Tobago's past. This event is a nostalgic journey back to the days when children’s entertainment required no fancy gadgets—just creativity, camaraderie, and the great outdoors.

Why Is This Event Important?

"Games We Use to Play" isn’t just about fun and entertainment; it’s about preserving Tobago’s cultural heritage. The event highlights traditional games that have been passed down through generations—games that once shaped community life, fostered teamwork, taught patience, and provided lessons in resilience.

For many Tobagonians, these games were more than just play; they were rites of passage, childhood bonding experiences, and a way to escape the household chores and structured routines of daily life. In a time before modern technology took over our attention, these games taught values, built friendships, and strengthened communities.

What Kind of Games Are Celebrated?

During this Heritage Festival event, you’ll witness a lively showcase and reenactment of some of Tobago’s most beloved traditional games.

These may include:

- Moral (Hopscotch)

- Pitch (Marbles)

- Catcher or ‘Ketchin’

- Skip Rope and Ring Games

- Knock for Dolly

- Red Light, Green Light

- Bat and Ball (Street Cricket)

- Button Football

- Jacks (Goats and Kids)

- Stoop Cracks

Each game brings back memories of sweat, laughter, friendly competition, and the unique chants and songs that accompanied playtime in the village or neighborhood square.

More Than Just Play: A Cultural Connection

The Tobago Heritage Festival’s "Games We Use to Play" serves as a living history lesson. It reminds older generations of their own childhood joys while teaching younger ones about life before social media, apps, and video games.

It also encourages intergenerational dialogue. Elders get the chance to pass on the stories, rules, and rhythms of these games, keeping the traditions alive.

Children today can experience the same pure, unfiltered fun that defined growing up in Tobago decades ago.

An Invitation to Remember and Reconnect

Whether you’re participating, spectating, or just reminiscing, the “Games We Use to Play” is an invitation to step back in time—to remember what it was like to play until sunset, to bond with friends through laughter and shared moments, and to celebrate the beauty of Tobago’s cultural heritage.

So come out, take part, and maybe teach the younger generation a thing or two about how fun never needed a charger, password, or touchscreen.