A straw ribbon graced the entrance to the Junkanoo Summer Festival, which kicked off on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arawak Cay. Pictured, second left, Permanent Secretary Harrison Thompson; Junkanoo Nymphe, Analicia Thompson; Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu; and Deputy Director General Ellison ‘Tommy’ Thompson. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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NASSAU, The
Bahamas – It looked like a prelude to the annual Boxing and New Year’s Day
parades as thousands flocked to Arawak Cay for the opening of the Junkanoo
Summer Festival on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Organized by
the Ministry of Tourism, the festival will be held every
Saturday during the
month of July. It is aimed at showcasing the best in culture, dance and food
fare.
The event
will also give Junkanoo groups, on a smaller scale, an opportunity to compete
in music, dance and choreography for prizes and of course, bragging rights.
Participating
B Groups and their themes were: The Fancy Dancers --
Welcome to The Bahamas; Engerleston Pioneers –
Sun, Sand & Sea; Conquerors for Christ –
All Things Bahamian; Body of Christ –
Crusaders; Genesis –
Our
Bahamas, Our Children, Our Future; and Colours –
Junkasplash.
The A Groups
and their themes: Roots –
Island Life; One Family –
Sun, Sand & Sea; Saxons –
Festival Beach Party; Music Makers –
Only The Sun Covers The Bahamas; and The
Valley Boys –
Pirates of The Bahamas.
A street
march was also part of the festivities with fire dancers, jugglers, acrobats
and the
Junkanoo Nymphe who was
painted in hues of blue and glittery ornaments.
Present
among the crowd were Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, Permanent
Secretary Harrison Thompson, Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu and other
tourism officials.
A dancer of the B Group, Genesis, thrills the crowd during the opening of the Junkanoo Summer Festival on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arawak Cay.
(BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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Enjoying the show, from left: Junkanoo Nymphe, Analicia Thompson, Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe, and Director General of Tourism Joy Jibrilu at the opening of the Junkanoo Summer Festival on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arawak Cay. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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The Fancy Dancers Junkanoo Group were the first out the gate, at the opening of the Junkanoo Summer Festival on Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arawak Cay. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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