FLORIDA - The streets of Coconut Grove will be flooded with traditional
Bahamian food, arts and crafts, entertainment, and plenty of Junkanoo
at the 33rd annual Goombay Festival the weekend of June 3 –
6.
The festival, named after the traditional Bahamian drum music, was
brought to the Grove in 1976 to commemorate the Bahamian people who had
settled the area in the early 19th century and as an effort
to keep the culture in the area alive.
The festival has become a signature event and will kick off with a
reception at the Coco Walk Chili’s at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. Other
activities taking place over the weekend include a historical luncheon
of pioneers, opportunities for kids to create their own Junkanoo
costumes and will culminate into the street festival that will take over
from Douglas Rd. to Mcdonald from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 6.
The street festival will have vendors offering both Bahamian and
American food, art, crafts, educational experiences, and many sponsors
will be handing out free giveaways to visitors while the Junkanoo band
makes music with their traditional goat skin drums and horns and dancing
in their wild costumes.
“It’s a commemoration of the Bahamians coming to the Grove,” said
Dorothy P. Lee, chairman of the board of The Miami/Bahamas Goombay
Festival in Coconut Grove, Inc. “It’s just a jolly good time for
everyone involved.”
A complete schedule of the Festival events can be found on their
website.
www.goombayfestivalcoconutgrove.com
