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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Bringing the music, the culture the vibes to the backyard
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC) is teaming up with the Sir Durward Knowles National Junior Championship Regatta to host a party in the backyard for the inaugural event. Previously, the junior championship regatta was held during the same time as the National Family Island Regatta in April. Now, the junior event has a dedicated weekend.
“The Committee felt for a very long time that the national regatta overshadowed the junior regatta. It took the decision to hold the junior regatta as a separate event from the main regatta. So this year for the first time the event will be held over the Easter weekend (March 26th & 27th) with teams from several Family Islands, including New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Long Island and Exuma, competing with native sloops and Sunfish boats,” said Danny Strachan, Chairman & Commodore of the National Family Island Regatta.
“We expect to have over 100 children from across The Bahamas. I am very happy and excited about the prospect of the event and the impact it will have on the local economy,” said Mr. Strachan.
Chairman of the Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC), Paul Major echoed the sentiments, and said the positive economic impact of music events and festivals is felt throughout the Family Islands each year. It is only fitting that the BNFC, given its mandate, would support a youth activity promoting culture, heritage, sport and commerce.
Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival will host a concert at Regatta Park, 8:00 p.m. on Saturday night, featuring the Extra Band, Funky D, DJ Musical and the 2015 Music Masters Champion Sammi Starr, among others. Plus, it will host a youth parade showcasing indigenous costumes.
“The junior championship presented a great opportunity to get Family Island children involved in a Youth Culture Fest style parade. Youth Culture Fest is a signature BNFC event. It is a cultural display of indigenous costumes in celebration of the country’s youth. It will take place in Nassau on April 9 inside Da Cultural Village (Western Esplanade),” said Mr. Major.
“In Exuma, we will host a parade of costumes for the children and in so doing, continue to promote our vision of simulating the use of indigenous materials in the production of costumes for all festivals throughout The Bahamas,” he said.
The BNFC invites the public to experience a taste of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival at the Sir Durward Knowles National Junior Championship Regatta, Saturday and Sunday, March 26-17, in George Town, Exuma (Regatta Park). The road to carnival will continue all the way to Grand Bahama, for the Carnival Kick Off on April 15-16 and the main event in Nassau, May 5-7.
Sir Durward Knowles has been the single largest private sponsor of the National Family Island Regatta and the Patron of the National Junior Championship Regatta for many years. In consideration of his involvement with the National Family Island Regatta from the early 60's the Committee took the decision to name the Junior National Championship Regatta in his honour.
“We did so conscious of the fact that through the many years Sir Durward Knowles has become a national symbol of sporting excellence and determination in The Bahamas,” said Mr Stratchan.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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