Junkanoo Summer Festival moves to downtown Nassau

Action Jackson thrills the crowd at JSF 2008.

In another big move to improve the highly-anticipated cultural experience known as Junkanoo Summer Festival, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation announced that Junkanoo Summer Festival will be held in a new location – Woodes Rogers Walk in the heart of downtown Nassau.

For several years, the festival has enjoyed Arawak Cay as the site of its weekly events.  This year, it will be against the backdrop of Nassau’s busy shopping thoroughfare of Bay Street, next to the world famous Straw Market, and overlooking Nassau Harbour and its cruise port.  The move will bring even more excitement to the event, said Christine Ferguson, the event’s main coordinator for the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

 “People will be able to feel the energy of our vibrant city when they enter this new festival site,” She said. “We are in the heart of the city, and our festivities will be at the center of all the activities that normally make Nassau such an interesting and exciting destination.”

Ms. Ferguson pointed out that downtown Nassau also has sentimental appeal as a location for Junkanoo Summer Festival.  The move will conjure up memories of past festivals that were successfully staged there, she said.

“Our residents and many of our visitors from long ago would recall the days of Goombay Summer Festival,” Ms. Ferguson pointed out.  “Goombay Summer was one of our landmark celebrations.  It brought our visitors together with our residents just as Junkanoo Summer Festival does today.  Goombay Summer was held right at Woodes Rogers Walk, and we anticipate that Junkanoo Summer will be just as special and just as successful.”

Junkanoo Summer Festival will feature Bahamian heritage in entertaining presentations and demonstrations.  Those who attend the festival can expect to encounter the best Bahamian music, dance, cuisine, and literature, organizers said.

Events will include heritage games such as pineapple-eating and onion-peeling contests.  New goombay and rake ‘n scrape songs will be introduced each week.  Culinary demonstrations will give audiences a better understanding of the preparation of Bahamian meals, and the festival will be punctuated each week by colorful, high-energy junkanoo parades.

Junkanoo Summer Festival will be held every Saturday in July from noon to 10pm in downtown Nassau.