Junkanoo Leaders and Ministry of Tourism officials meet to plan Junkanoo Summer Festival
and Scenes from Junkanoo Summer Festival 2014
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Locals and visitors will double their pleasure this summer as the
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism presents two sizzling street festivals.
On Saturday, July 4th, the Ministry of Tourism will make Bay
Street come alive with Junkanoo Summer Festival – bringing the two-day winter
street rush festival to the summer.
JSF, a festival of music, food and culture is every Saturday in
July.
While all major Junkanoo groups participate in rush outs, there’s
also a competition for cash prizes.
Each week features an electrifying event:
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Week One (July 4th): Massive Street Dance
Competition:
All Category A and B groups participate in a street dance
competition.
·
Week Two (July 11th): Music Competition
The sounds of cowbells, horns and drums fill the air as Junkanoo
groups face off in a music competition.
·
Week Three (July 18th): Full Junkanoo
Competition
The groups combine music, dance and costumes for a full-on
Junkanoo battle.
·
Week Four (July 25th): Junkanoo Finale
Competition
The best of the best in the categories of drummers, bellers and
others compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. There’s also an award
ceremony, which will climax with an all-star Bahamian Rush and concert.
Among the sponsors for this event are Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
and Atlantis Paradise Island.
To close out summer, the Ministry of Tourism is hosting Goombay
every Friday in August at Pompey Square and Woodes Rogers Wharf.
Goombay, which originated in the 1970s, is revived for a new twist
on cultural entertainment.
The festival begins on August 8 and showcases various cultural delights
like traditional Goombay Dancers, Ring Play, Rake n’ Scrape Bands, Limbo and
Fire Dancers, Androsia Fashion, a Kids Corner, Magic Man, Face Painters, People
to People Booth and a thrilling Junkanoo Rush Out.
Director of Events at the Ministry of Tourism Charity Armbrister says
the events are about authentic Bahamian experiences.
“These events provide an opportunity for visitors to spend more
money with the local food, drinks, arts and craft vendors, while learning more
about Bahamians and our way of life,” she said.
“These festivals will continue to grow from strength to strength
provided they are held annually at the same time each year, which allow
visitors to plan and book their vacations in advance. They can also create a
good reason to “go now” creating a sense of urgency to taking a vacation.”
Both events will take place on several Family Islands.
For more information visit www.bahamas.com/summerfestivals
