The Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival has an exciting new element added to it this year.
The Bahamas National Festival Commission (BNFC), in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, has brought in a sailing regatta component to catapult even more culture to the three-day Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival festival.
The regatta, which includes a boat show, will take place inside "Da Cultural Village" - the epicenter of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. The regatta will include 10 sloops and take place on Thursday May 5 and Friday May 6, starting at 1 p.m. each day. The boat show will take place on Friday afternoon after the race and all day on Saturday.
The sailing portion will be in honor of the late Frank Hanna and the boat show will be in honor of the late Reverend Dr. W.G. McPhee. Regatta Consultant in the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Reverend Philip McPhee, is the son of Dr. W.G. McPhee. The elder McPhee pioneered many aspects of regattas in The Bahamas.
Reverend McPhee said adding this aspect of culture to Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is highly beneficial.
"It is a great opportunity for it. Several weeks ago, I heard the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival was not really appealing to the Bahamian flavor and the money was being spent on foreign entities," he said.
"I think it is going to be one of the greatest events that happened in Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. Frank Hanna also gave a lot to regattas. I want to encourage Bahamians to come out and support everything that is truly Bahamian. It is the only cultural sporting Bahamian event that we can call ours. It does not happen like this anywhere in the world. It cannot be said that Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival does not have anything Bahamian in it."
Chairman of the BNFC Roscoe Dames said this is just another way to promote Bahamian culture to the world.
"While Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival is largely a celebration of our music, it is also a grand celebration of our culture. Regattas are a major celebration of culture in the country and should be celebrated. This adds a dynamic feature to the cultural village and we are excited that we will celebrate two men who gave so much to this cultural phenomenon while celebrating Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival," said Dames.
Activities inside "Da Cultural Village" are free from 12 noon to 6 p.m. daily during Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, Thursday May 5 to Saturday May 7.
To complement the sailing regatta and boat show, there will be a Junkanoo workshop and craft demonstration, Junkanoo rush-outs and straw weaving exhibitions inside "Da Cultural Village". Tickets to the evening concerts are currently on sale at all Cash 'N Go locations, starting at $15.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
