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Last Updated: Jun 23, 2017 - 8:15:27 PM |
It’s summer time again and that means Junkanooers throughout the Islands of The Bahamas are getting ready for a sizzling Junkanoo Summer Festival.
The cultural extravaganza will take over Arawak Cay July 1, 15, 22 and 29. The festival, which runs from 4:00 p.m. to midnight, will also feature mouthwatering Bahamian dishes from nearly 30 vendors, authentic Bahamian craft and an exciting kiddie corner.
Each evening focuses on a different aspect of Junkanoo. On July 1, the spotlight will be on choreography, July 15, groups will be judged on costumes and on July 22 the overall competition will be held. On July 29, the winners of the parade will be announced.
As Junkanoo is a fierce competition, many groups are preparing for the festival that officially kicks off the Junkanoo calendar.
Vice Chairman of the Valley Boys Stephen ‘Eggy Boom’ Bain said the defending champions plan to keep the title.
“We in the Valley Boys take it very seriously because we are presenting ourselves to locals and visitors alike, and when we present ourselves we do it with pride. We call it Valley Pride,” he said.
Public Relations Officer for the Shell Saxons Superstars Kendenique Campbell -Moss said the group is going to deliver something different this year.
“It is everything that we have brought to the boulevard in past years and what we are hoping to bring in the near future and so it is going to absolutely fantastic. We have our king and queen that is going to be on the boulevard full of music dancing and vibration and it is going to be simply fantastic,” she said.
“All of the groups take Junkanoo Summer Festival extremely seriously because it opens the season for us. It goes into the Independence parades. It’s not just a process of going into the shacks and retrieving what is already there. There are persons that are building for this parade.”
Former Chairman of the Costume Committee for Roots Kendal Major says when it comes to music and costumes, Roots is far above the rest.
“We are going to beat them in the costumes and we are going to beat them in the music. We have the best builders all around. What we try to do is bring the best from the other groups,” he said.
“We have an orchestra. It’s not just a Junkanoo band. Our music is really appealing and it makes you want to dance.”
Not to be counted out, B category contenders are also getting ready to rush through the crowd.
Leader of Colours Entertainment Chris Justillien said his group, the defending B group champions, is always ready.
“Junkanoo is three major elements, that’s the music, art and the dance. Our group has always been proud of presenting all of those elements in the grandest fashion and choreography is no doubt going to be awesome,” he said.
“We aim to beat what we have done in the past and we are just looking to beat ourselves. We are our best competition.”
Pastor Henry Higgins, Leader of Conquerors for Christ said the group plans to pay a tribute to Religious Tourism.
“So what we have done is that we have started to go over all the events that Religious Tourism has put in place since its inception and we are going to be showcasing those things,” he said.
The order of the parade is as follows:
B Category
· Fancy Dancers
· Body of Christ
· Conquerors For Christ
· Redland Soldier
· Fox Hill Congos
· Colours
A Category
· Genesis
· Music Makers
· One Family
· Roots
· Saxons
· Valley Boys
Director of Events in the Ministry of Tourism Charity Armbrister said the event is going to be exciting.
“Junkanoo Summer Festival is an exciting event and locals and tourists look forward to it. We know that Junkanoo is the heartbeat of Bahamian culture and we want to make sure that everyone enjoys it,” she said.
Junkanoo Summer Festival is also being held in North and South Andros, Mangrove Cay, Berry Islands, Bimini, Exuma and Harbour Island.
Junkanoo Summer Festival, a signature event of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, is an exhilarating street festival held at Arawak Cay.
The festival is designed to capture the competiveness and excitement of the largest expression of Bahamian culture four Saturdays in the month of July.
For more information, contact the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism office at 302-2000 or visit www.bahamas.com/summerfestivals
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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