With 60 percent of the tickets for the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade already sold, Chairman of the Junkanoo Committee Silbert Ferguson said he expects the event to be sold out.  "Ticket sales are going very well," Ferguson told The Nassau Guardian yesterday.  "The Boxing Day parade is about 60 percent sold out.  The New Year's Day is about 20 percent, but you know as Bahamians we are all last minute, so we are anticipating a mad rush here on [Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium] and at Mario's [Bowling Alley] this weekend, where we will sell that Boxing Day Parade out."

The Boxing Day Parade is expected to start at 12 a.m. on Monday.  Ferguson said there are approximately 200 seats left in Rawson Square and at Charlotte Street, which are the most popular areas.  "We want people to come out and get a good seat," he said, adding that he expects the parade to be safe as there will be a strong police presence.  In total there are 10,000 available seats, Ferguson said.

He added that he is hoping for increased sales this year, as last year the Junkanoo Corporation was not able to make enough to pay the winning groups their prize money.  Ferguson did not reveal how much the corporation made last year.  "Everyone loves Junkanoo, but it is a very expensive exercise," he said.  "We are just trying to make ends meet.  We are encouraging all of our valued customers to help us."

BTC recently made a $206,000 contribution to the New Providence Junkanoo Corporation to help fund the junior and senior parades, with pledges of donations to follow in future years.  Nearly half of that money will go directly to the Junkanoo Corporation.  Tickets range from $5 to $45 for both parades.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian