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Last Updated: May 24, 2009 - 3:37:13 PM |
 Junkanoo Summer Festival will avoid the heavy rains of June and take the shape of a music and heritage festival July 12 – August 2, celebrating the roots of Bahamian cultural activities.
The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, the principal organizer of the annual event, has delayed the start of Junkanoo Summer Festival in order to begin during a time that normally provides more favorable weather. This decision was taken due to the festival being marred several times last week by torrential rains.
The new start time will also bring a more down-home cultural focus for the event.
“Those attending Junkanoo Summer Festival this year will notice a marked, down-home flavor to all the festivities,” said Janet Johnson, director of Product and Events Strategy in the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. “There will be lots of music, and we have made a concerted effort to provide an acoustic sound. While the electronic enhancements of rake ‘n scrape are still popular, our visitors and residents will have a unique experience this summer, listening to the natural sounds of the saw, the scrubbing board, the tin tub, and the goatskin drum.”
The cultural festival will be held at Arawak Cay every Saturday from 2pm to 8pm. Musical entertainers will include Ed Moxey, Lassie Doe Boys, Traffic Jam and Berkley Van Bird.
Ms. Johnson said the inclusion of Bahamian dances will also be more pronounced at this year’s festival. The festival site will feature a cultural dance workshop. In the workshop, the National Dance School will demonstrate and teach traditional dances of the Bahamas.
“Through all this, we cannot get away from Bahamian cuisine,” Ms. Johnson said. “The bread-baking and cooking demonstrations of Junkanoo Summer Festival have become very popular over the years. We’re going back to basics with instruction in preparing crab ‘n rice, peas ‘n rice, macaroni and cheese and other Bahamian favourites.” Ms. Johnson also pointed out that the festival at Arawak Cay will allow patrons to take part in many activities that Bahamians enjoy for recreation and identify as part of our culture. Many of the activities will take the form of organized competitions, she said.
Cultural competitions will include pineapple eating, crab catching, corn shucking and onion peeling. In addition, backgammon and domino competitions will be organized.
The festival will also continue to present junkanoo parades each week for the enjoyment of audiences.
Fringe events of JSF are special presentations of ThoughtKatcher’s Da Spot comedy series at the Dundas every Tuesday from June 17 to August 19 and the Royal Poincianna Tea Party at the British Colonial Hilton on June 27 and July 25. In addition, the National Youth Choir will present special concerts of traditional Bahamian music and Broadway show tunes at the Dundas on June 21 and 28, 8pm each night.
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