Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival recently
launched in Nassau Bahamas, is now set to launch internationally, beginning
with Atlanta Georgia October 8th, 2014. With a series of media and
promotional events, team Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will also be showcased along
with Colors Junkanoo Group at the Urban Lux Fashion and Entertainment event as
well as at the annual expo, For Sisters Only, which draws over 30,000 people
from Atlanta and around the world.
The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, is a
festival that provides an experience showcasing a collage of culture. Additionally, it is a celebration where
Bahamians and guests from around the world will be immersed in all things
Bahamian. The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival events scheduled from May
7th-9th, 2015, will showcase Junkanoo, Rake -n-
Scrape, Arts and Crafts, Bahamian Cuisine, Visual Art, Music, Dance and more.
The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival season will open from Easter
Monday through May 9, 2015 consisting of diverse parties and gatherings leading
up to one weekend, four main events: JunkaMania, Midnight Rush, Music Masters,
and Road Fever. Bahamas Carnival will be
featured in the vicinity of Clifford Park, The Western Esplanade, and Arawak
Cay.
The birth of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival emerged from the
vision of the Right Hon. Perry Christie, cultural icons, Percy “Vola” Francis
and the late Gus Cooper among others, who are passionate about presenting our
unique culture and Junkanoo to the world.
As a result, the Bahamas National Festival Commission, (BNFC) was
formed in October 2013 with the mandate to stimulate sustainable
economic opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Creative
Sector throughout The Bahamas, to bring to fruition a new Bahamian-styled
Carnival in May of 2015, to stimulate year round employment in the Creative
Sector, and to significantly impact the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is truly the rebirth of culture,
tourism and entertainment, in The Bahamas. It will showcase the uniqueness of Junkanoo in
a way that is unprecedented, as it is the music and spirit of Junkanoo that
drives our carnival.
Roscoe Dames, CEO, BNFC, expressed his excitement at featuring
over 27 Bahamian Carnival Companies, who will provide costumes for purchase via
the e-commerce site.
The Family Islands will also experience a taste of Bahamas Junkanoo
Carnival through our support of local cultural events.
Grand Bahama “Jumps In da Line” in excitement
of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.
On Friday, 17th April 2015, The Music Masters
Concert, will be held in Freeport, Grand Bahama where 25 Semi- finalists of
the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival song competition will perform on stage, to select
the 10 finalist. A world class headliner
will also be featured.
Saturday, 18th April 2015 - Midnight Rush –
6am - All are invited to “jump in da line” and participate in sweet
Junkanoo! This is a rush for the people.
Saturday 18th, 2015- Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival
Beach Party - Music, food, and cultural entertainment on display. We invite the world to participate from 11am
until.
Nassau Features Four
Main Events of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival:
JunkaMania, a
grand explosion of Junkanoo Orchestras that you don’t want to miss. It will be
featured on May 7, 2015 from 8pm-12am.
The Music Masters
Concert - Experience a concert like none other. Music Masters will be held
on May 8, 2015 from 8pm-12am. This is the Mega concert that will showcase our
10 song competition finalists who will share the stage with a Grammy award
winning artist. Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival sets the stage for Bahamian recording
artists to nurture their sound and express themselves in front of a global
audience. It will also include an immersive parade on an iconic stage.
Midnight Rush: At
this event, the world is invited to feel the “rush” and participate in sweet,
sweet Junkanoo. On May 9, 2015, 12am-6am, a Junkanoo rush out will be held at
the carnival village following the mega concert.
Road Fever is the
main masquerade that will evoke you to let loose in the streets of Nassau on
May 9, 2015 from 11am-8pm! It will be an epic collage of costumes, color and
culture on parade.
All Bahamians who take advantage of the entrepreneurial
opportunities of Bahamas Carnival can benefit.
The creative community will be the greatest beneficiaries. Bahamas
Carnival will be a mega culture festival where all artists, craftsperson,
chefs, musicians, etc. can showcase their talents for profit.
The word “Carnival” is an international term for a cultural
festival. There are over 200 carnivals worldwide. The Bahamas will now be added
to the worldwide Carnival destination list. Carnivals are among the largest
income generating festivals in the world. Carnival has contributed
significantly to increased tourism and economic growth in over 100 cities
worldwide. Businesses which participate in carnival-related activities often
see increased sales of up to 100% during the course of the season.
Bahamas Carnival costumes will be required to incorporate
some degree of local materials including sisal, coconut husk, Androsia, Bahama
Handprint, and other locally made fabrics, straw and crocus sack. Local
materials are required as we are promoting “Things Bahamian”.
The Bahamas National Festival Commission has a list of
suppliers and has sourced over 100 local suppliers of indigenous materials
including, shells, burlap, straw, sisal and seeds for costume production.
Costumes will be made available for sale to our local and global audience via
the e-commerce site, “bahamasjunkanoocarnival.com.”