Ground was broken on "Da Cultural Village" this week at the Western Esplanade as the Bahamas National Festival Commission steadily increases preparations for the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in the weeks to come.

Site clearing has started on land designated for additional parking at the half-mile long cultural village, set to be the epicenter of activity during Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. This enclosed space at the Western Esplanade will provide entrants with multiple experiences, featuring live non-stop entertainment and food vendors from around The Bahamas during the Junkanoo Carnival period.

"This will be a safe, fun and interactive environment for the family," said Roscoe Dames, chief executive officer of the BNFC. "All elements of Da Cultural Village will incorporate indigenous Bahamian food, art, music and performances.

"We want this to be an official display center for Bahamians and tourists alike to enjoy." Slated to open officially on May 6, Da Cultural Village will include several different areas and stages.

They include: o Stage Junkanoo, an interactive area designated to accommodate Junkanoo performances and demonstrations; o Stage Rake and Scrape, a special zone for live Rake and Scrape performances to entertain participants; o Stage Bahamia, the space selected for Bahamian and some regional musical acts from all diverse genres to perform during that time; o Arts and Crafts Cottage, an area set aside for various vendors displaying everything from local art to straw work and other crafts.

A similar cultural village is also being built in Grand Bahama at the Taino Beach, Freeport area. In Grand Bahama, Da Cultural Village will have a performance stage and pavilions where participants and vendors can mingle and experience the Music Masters semi-finals events planned on that island. Da Cultural Village will close its doors after May 9 in Nassau and after April 18 in Grand Bahama.

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