With six major groups and six "B" groups participating in the Junkanoo Summer Festival activities, for the next four weekends it's going to feel like Christmas in July as the Ministry of Tourism showcases the best of Bahamian culture and heritage at the festival. Whether you are in New Providence or you visit festival sites in Grand Bahama, Marsh Harbour, Abaco, or Georgetown, Exuma, it's an event that is the not to be missed event of the summer.
The Junkanoo Summer Festival will blend art, culture, music and Junkanoo in the heart of the island, downtown Bay Street, starting today for the next four weeks between 7 p.m. and 12 midnight.
The festival, that runs every Friday and Saturday through July 26 on Bay Street, is designed to capture the competitiveness and excitement of Junkanoo for eight days during the month of July.
"It's going to be like Christmas in July," said Charity Armbrister, director of events in the Ministry of Tourism. "And knowing Bahamians, once there's Junkanoo we know that they will come and participate."
The rushing will take place on Bay Street in a pretty short rush area. Each group will have 45 minutes to rush between Frederick Street and Rawson Square.
Armbrister said this year's festival is designed to capture the competitiveness and excitement of Junkanoo over the eight days. Each weekend, bragging rights will be fought for, kicking off with the choreographed dancers this weekend. Next week, the musicians will go at it during the second week of the festival, with the groups all coming together at center stage for the big clash during the festival's third week. A Junkanoo Summer Festival king and queen will also be selected based on the results of their dancing and costuming.
"It's not just showing off Junkanoo groups, it's also about competition," said Armbrister. Competing "A" groups will be Roots, Valley Boys, Prodigal Sons, Music Makers, One Family and Saxons Superstars. The "B" Group competitors include Colours, Body of Christ, Conquerors for Christ, Red Land Soldiers, Fancy Dancers and the Original Congos.
The incredible splash of colorful costuming splendor and the rhythmic blending of the sounds of goatskin drums, cowbells and whistles will entice people to want to jump in and enjoy the rush. Understanding this, organizers have organized a rush just for the people, dubbed the Tourism is Everybody's Business Scrap rushout, that will take place on Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m.
There will also be every kind of Bahamian food imaginable to partake in during the festivities. The 40 food stalls have been over-subscribed, with people waiting to get their foot in the door if someone drops out at the last minute. The vendor stalls have been set up along Parliament street north and south.
Entry into the festival is free. Armbrister says it will be a great family event.
A float parade will take place on Saturday, July 26 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The parade departs from Arawak Cay, Bay Street onto Mackey Street to Wulf Road and Nassau Street back to Arawak Cay.
On the last night before the festival there will be a concert featuring the top Bahamian musicians in the country. A deejay will play the downtown area. During festival days, Bay Street will close to vehicular traffic at 4 p.m.

The schedule
New Providence
Rawson Square -- 7 p.m. to midnight
New Providence
July 4-5: Street dancing: Choreographed dancers from A and B groups compete in a massive street dance competition.
July 11-12: Category A and B groups compete for the best music crown.
July 18-19: Dance, music and a spectacular showing of costumes as Category A and B groups bring dance, music and costumes to compete on Bay Street.
July 25: Tourism is Everybody's Business Scrap rushout. It's an opportunity for the community to celebrate the culture by binding together on Bay Street.
July 26: Junkanoo Summer Festival finale: Corporate and civic organizations participate in a tourism float parade.
Abaco
July 11-12 -- BAIC Grounds, Marsh Harbour, 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Bimini
July 26 -- Administrator's Complex, Alice Town, noon-until
Eleuthera
July 16 -- Bay Front Park, Governor's Harbour, 5 p.m. - midnight
July 26 -- Ocean Hole Park, Rock Sound, noon - midnight
Exuma
July 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26 -- Fish Fry, George Town, 7 p.m. - midnight
Harbour Island
July 5, 25 -- Bay Street, Harbour Island, noon-until
Long Island
July 18 -- Regatta site, Salt Pond, 5 p.m. - until
July 19 -- Regatta site, Salt Pond, 2 p.m. - until
North Andros
July 19 -- Morgan's Drive, Nicholls Town, 5:30 p.m. - until
July 26 -- Queen's Park, Fresh Creek, 5:30 p.m. - until
South Andros
July 4 -- Mangrove Cay, Andros Government Complex, 8 p.m. - until
July 10 -- South Andros, Government Complex, 8 p.m. - until
San Salvador
July 18 -- Airport Park, 6:30 p.m. - until
July 19 -- Long Bay, noon - until

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