Junkanoo Festival

Occuring every year on December 26th and January 1st, the Junkanoo festival is a staple of homegrown Bahamian culture. Essentially a nationwide dance festival where people flood the streets in celebration, Junkanoo features high energy, colourful costumes, island beats and rich Bahamian heritage.
Originally conceived as a commemorative event to symbolize the slaves’ freedom from captivity, Junkanoo is a representation of strength through adversity, and uses positive energy as its driving force. The largest and most well-known Junkanoo parade occurs in Nassau, where thousands of people can be seen dancing through the city center on Bay Street. Other popular places to experience the festival are Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco and Eluthera, making it a truly nationwide display of Bahamian culture Costumes are an important part of the Junkaroo experience, the designs of which have evolved significantly since the festival’s inception. Initially crafted from leaves, sea sponges and shredded paper, they are now made predominantly from crepe paper glued to wood, fabric or cardboard in a detailed fashion. They are brightly coloured, typically featuring a shoulder piece, skirt and headdress. Junkanoo dancers are responsible for creating their own costumes, and at times they can take up to a year to complete depending on the complexity of the individual design. The music at Junkaroo is characteristically Bahamian, featuring copper bells, mouth whistles goombay drums, and even a brass section. The most iconic instrument, however, is the goatskin drum, which participants traditionally make themselves and use to keep the mesmerizing beat of the festival. The action takes place on December 26^th, and again in the wee hours of the new year (January 1^st, 2am-8am). For more information, call the Junkanoo Expo Center at (242) 356-2731 Address Prince George Wharf, Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas Hours of Operation Open daily from 10am-4pm Admission: $2.00 for adults, $0.50 for children