The lure of The Bahamas is tough to withstand if you’re craving sunny shores, lovely seashores, and the very best island experiences. You’ll additionally love these tropical isles for the leisure, particularly festivals that present the center of The Bahamas just like the Bahamas Carnival (held yearly in Might) and Junkanoo (held on Boxing Day and New 12 months’s Day).
In case you’ll quickly be traveling to The Bahamas and wish to know extra about these well-loved festivals, resembling when to go, what to anticipate, the price and places of those occasions, learn on as we’ve acquired all of it coated!
Set off for Junkanoo festivities in The Bahamas out of your all-inclusive suite on the beachside Sandals Royal Bahamian.
What’s the distinction between Bahamas Carnival & Junkanoo?
Each Bahamas Carnival and Junkanoo are in style cultural festivals held in The Bahamas and are cherished by locals and guests alike. These occasions have fairly a number of similarities in that they contain music, costumes, competitions, and showcase the tradition of the islands in numerous methods, however there are additionally many variations between them.
One of many primary variations between these two occasions is when they’re held. Bahamas Carnival is often held yearly in April/early Might whereas Junkanoo occurs twice a yr, first in late December after which in early January. There are numerous different methods to inform these festivals aside too.
For starters, the music related to the Bahamas Carnival is totally completely different from the music you’ll expertise at Junkanoo. Whereas Bahamas Carnival has a heavy emphasis on soca, very like island carnivals elsewhere within the Caribbean, Junkanoo focuses on conventional musical types which might be distinctive to The Bahamas.
Since Junkanoo is a part of Bahamian custom, numerous elements of the island’s tradition and historical past are mirrored within the music and dancing you’ll see throughout this competition. Carnival, alternatively, serves extra of an leisure goal regardless of additionally having some historic and cultural roots within the area.
What’s Bahamas Carnival?
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Bahamas Carnival is a extremely entertaining cultural celebration held within the islands of The Bahamas. This four-day festivity sometimes entails gorgeous costumes adorned with beads, feathers, jewels, and different elaborations combined in with a lot of dancing, events, concert events, and avenue parades. This occasion is most frequently held in April/Might in The Bahamas, with a lot of occasions taking place on each Paradise Island and New Windfall.
Very like the opposite carnivals of the Caribbean, the attraction of the Bahamas Carnival for many individuals is the leisure issue, whether or not that comes from collaborating with a costumed band or watching from the sidelines. As costumes might be fairly expensive, some folks save up simply to be a part of the celebration.
Total, the Bahamas Carnival is a competition that showcases Caribbean heritage and music, celebrates freedom, and brings folks collectively.
Good to know: Bahamas Carnival was as soon as labeled ‘Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival’. The title was modified to separate the person identities of those festivals.
What occasions happen in the course of the Bahamas Carnival?
A number of actions happen in the course of the Bahamas Carnival. There are such a lot of occasions that most individuals received’t be capable of do all of it, although some could attempt. A few of the in style actions embrace personal events/fetes, dwell music occasions that includes native and worldwide expertise, and avenue parades. Though the principle occasion is the street march/avenue parade, many individuals make a degree of attending the events that lead as much as the principle occasion as effectively.
A few of the hottest actions in The Bahamas throughout carnival time are the soca events and concert events, and the J’ouvert occasions. J’ouvert is a dawn avenue occasion held forward of the large parade. The occasion is held to usher in a brand new day of festivities. Another in style events held in The Bahamas round carnival time embrace ‘Insomnia’, ‘Amnesia’, ‘Unleash’, and different ‘final lap’ occasions held after the road parades.
It’s helpful to notice that whereas many free carnival occasions get underway in The Bahamas round carnival time, a lot of the personal events and fetes, in addition to collaborating with a costumed band, come at a price.
Good to know: Nassau in The Bahamas tends to have nice nightlife and an superior leisure scene general when in comparison with many different Caribbean islands. Round carnival time, there are lots of large exhibits and occasions you may attend in Nassau, and also you’ll be capable of take pleasure in many different things to do in Nassau as effectively.
What are the costumes like for the Bahamas Carnival?
You’ll be able to look forward to finding vibrant and colourful costumes of all sizes and styles as a part of the spectacle that’s the Bahamas Carnival. Relying on the worth, costumes can vary from easy to extra extravagant, many with feathers, beads, and different fascinating elaborations. Costumes fluctuate relying on the carnival Mas band, part, and whether or not they are going to be worn by males or ladies as effectively.
Photograph credit score: Trae Rollins/Shutterstock.com
Every Bahamas Carnival band sometimes has its personal theme for the yr in addition to quite a few costumed sections that potential revelers can select from. Typically, the primary take a look at carnival costumes is offered through a band launch occasion. Most bands have their very own costume launch events, and after the band’s presentation for the yr is formally launched, costumes are often marketed on web sites and social media.
When deciding on costumes for Bahamas Carnival, one may discover themselves going by fairly a number of bands to search out the one which fits them finest when it comes to value and magnificence. It’s effectively price taking your time to search out the correct costume because the occasion solely comes round yearly!
Learn how to take part in Bahamas Carnival
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All you’ll must do to take part within the Bahamas Carnival as a spectator is to make the choice to take action! After that, the remainder tends to stream simply sufficient. If you wish to truly expertise what it’s prefer to ‘contact the street’ as a reveler within the Bahamas Carnival, you’ll first must discover a carnival band that you’re excited about.
Details about the carnival bands of The Bahamas is often simple to search out on-line, and as soon as you discover one which fits you, you may contact the Mas organizers straight or simply enroll on-line.
As soon as that’s achieved, you’ll then want to pick the part that options the costume you have an interest in. In some cases, numerous sections have common and VIP choices that individuals can select from, which provide various experiences. VIP carnival packages are inclined to value extra and have extra inclusions, resembling tickets to a number of the finest carnival occasions.
If you wish to be a part of the carnival enjoyable in The Bahamas however don’t essentially wish to play Mas, you may decide to observe from the sidelines and attend a carnival occasion or two which can actually assist get you into the rhythm of issues.
How a lot does Bahamas Carnival value?
To come back to a conclusion on how a lot it prices to take part within the Bahamas Carnival, a number of issues should be factored in. If you’ll be flying to the islands of The Bahamas from abroad, issues like airfare, resort lodging, costumes, occasion tickets, meals, and drinks should all be thought of.
Usually, if you’re a customer seeking to take part, you may count on to spend someplace within the area of $1,500 – $2,000 USD. This value will fluctuate relying on what number of events you’ll be attending (if any) and whether or not you’ll be collaborating with a costumed band.
It goes virtually with out saying that enjoying Mas (collaborating within the carnival) prices greater than it might to only watch the festivities from the sidelines. Carnival costumes in The Bahamas can vary from $300-$600 USD. Well-liked fete tickets to occasions like ‘Music Masters’ and the Cultural Village can value round $50-$150 USD.
When tallying your prices for Bahamas Carnival, you’ll additionally want to consider how lengthy you’ll be on the island, and the way many individuals you’ll be touring with.
What’s Junkanoo?
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Junkanoo is a in style, culturally-oriented competition in The Bahamas that occurs twice a yr. That is an authentically Bahamian celebration, and identical to with a carnival, music, and dancing play an necessary position. Round Junkanoo time in The Bahamas, you may count on to listen to a lot of conventional Bahamian music and see conventional costumes, most of that are handmade for the grand avenue parade.
The primary Junkanoo parades are held yearly on Boxing Day, and once more on New 12 months’s Day, however different related cultural actions additionally occur at numerous instances all year long. In the summertime, there may be sometimes a Junkanoo Pageant the place you’ll have the possibility to expertise Bahamian music, delicacies, and crafts in a enjoyable setting. You might also be delighted by dwell performances from established Junkanoo teams throughout this competition.
Do you know?: Junkanoo is named after the West African John Canoe Pageant. This occasion, which started as a masquerade, has an attention-grabbing historical past in The Bahamas that dates again to the seventeenth century. As historical past tells it, slaves would take part on this masquerade as part of their Christmas traditions.
Whereas the principle bi-annual occasion is held in Nassau, smaller occasions additionally happen on different islands of The Bahamas like Grand Bahama, the Exumas, and the Abacos. Junkanoo is held in different international locations too! For instance, in Miami and Key West, this celebration is noticed in October by folks with roots in The Bahamas.
Why is Junkanoo celebrated in The Bahamas?
Junkanoo has an attention-grabbing historical past and has been celebrated in numerous methods over time. Whereas there are lots of theories round its roots, most agree that the occasion began as a vacation custom of slaves in The Bahamas. That is why the competition is alleged to have dated again to the seventeenth century, years earlier than slavery was finally abolished in The Bahamas in 1807.
Junkanoo, because it exists right now, has lots to do with celebrating freedom. Many Bahamians who take part on this occasion accomplish that so as to have a good time their roots. There may be an consciousness of the colonial hyperlinks for many and a recognition that the way in which they have a good time right now was not attainable again then. Total, Junkanoo celebrations over time have really developed right into a extra stable and constant occasion.
What occasions happen throughout Junkanoo?
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Junkanoo is a really exact occasion and Junkanoo teams sometimes select a distinct theme for every parade. This theme is usually associated to Junkanoo traditions as they’ve been carried out over time. The occasions, costumes, music, devices, and different parts of this competition proceed to resonate loudly with anybody fortunate sufficient to witness it.
By way of occasions, the principle exercise for Junkanoo is a big street parade held in Downtown Nassau alongside Bay Road on Boxing Day and New 12 months’s Day. The parades often begin at odd hours – like 2 a.m. Even with such an early begin, the Junkanoo parade often continues for hours, occurring till about 10 a.m.
Very like the Bahamas Carnival, Junkanoo teams every have their very own theme for the parade. A few of the teams that often take part are ‘Valley Boys’, ‘One Household’, ‘The Prodigal Sons’, ‘Roots’, ‘The Music Makers’, and ‘Saxons’. Inside every group, there are often dancers, musicians, and people who showcase the bigger costume items.
The musicians within the group play conventional devices like goatskin drums, cowbells, horns, and whistles, in addition to brass and wooden devices. The entire individuals put on superbly designed costumes. As liberating as Junkanoo is, additionally it is extremely aggressive and these teams vie for the ‘Greatest Junkanoo Group’ title, in addition to money prizes.
Good to know: In case you’re not in a position to make it to the Junkanoo Pageant in December or January, it’s attainable to get a style of this Bahamian custom in the summertime on choose Friday and Saturday nights in Nassau!
What are the costumes like for Junkanoo?
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Junkanoo costumes are sometimes handmade by revelers within the weeks and months main as much as the large occasion. These costumes are often impressed by the theme of the assorted Junkanoo bands and vary from basic and easy to really extraordinary.
Typically, Junkanoo costumes are made out of cardboard with crepe paper strategically positioned in essentially the most intricate method. Fringe and motion are pluses for the general look of Junkanoo costumes. Some craftsmen use supplies like aluminum rods and make contact with cement so as to add construction to a design. Whereas easier costumes don’t value a lot, the extra extravagant ones can value 1000’s of {dollars} to place collectively.
Along with the everyday Junkanoo costumes, you can too count on to see parade floats on the Junkanoo competition. These are often made out of the identical sorts of supplies because the costumes and are mostly pushed or carried by the streets, which provides extra vibrancy and pleasure to the general occasion.
The place to observe Junkanoo?
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The placement you watch the Junkanoo parade from whilst you’re in The Bahamas will decide the kind of expertise you’ll have and in addition how a lot you’ll see. A few of the locations the place you’ll be capable of get the very best views of the Junkanoo parade embrace:
- Bleachers alongside Bay Road (finest views at Rawson Sq.) – value varies from $20-$120.
- Restaurant balconies alongside Bay avenue – value varies from $50 – $150 for balcony tickets.
- At no cost, you can too decide to face street-side to view the parade.
Bay Road
Bay Road is the place the principle occasions of the Junkanoo Pageant get underway in The Bahamas. Bleachers are arrange alongside this avenue, and so they make a terrific place to absorb the festivities. In case you select to view the parade from this vantage level and get there early sufficient, you’ll be capable of discover a snug seat to absorb the spectacle that’s Junkanoo. Or, you will get an up-close view by standing on the sidelines of the parade to observe!
Different nice locations to observe
In case you’d want a fancier possibility, there are a selection of eating places alongside Bay Road with balconies that provide nice views of the Junkanoo Parade. These institutions usually provide tickets to observe the parade at a price. This could be a very engaging possibility since there may be much less of a crowd, and the view of the parade from greater up is really spectacular. Plus, if you happen to do select to pay for a balcony ticket and watch from the restaurant, you’ll have fast and quick access to meals and drinks if you want them!
Suggestions & tips for the very best Junkanoo expertise
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Get there early
If you wish to get the very best view of the Junkanoo Parade, you’ll must get to your most popular location early. Early (in Junkanoo spectator phrases) is round 12 AM – 1 AM. The festivities often get underway at 2 AM!
Ask for insights!
In case you’ll be staying at an all-inclusive resort in Nassau, you can also make transportation preparations by your resort to get to a very good viewing location and again as soon as the parade is over. Resort employees may also offer you ideas on the very best locations to observe!
If you wish to take part in Junkanoo, you can too get info out of your resort on how finest to go about this. The concierge at Sandals resorts in The Bahamas is nice at serving to company make preparations to attend native occasions!
How a lot does Junkanoo value?
The worth {that a} customer to The Bahamas can count on to pay to attend Junkanoo is much like the price one would pay to journey to the islands to take part within the Bahamas Carnival. If issues like airfare, lodging, occasion tickets, meals, and drinks are factored in, the price to attend Junkanoo might be round $1,500 USD. This value varies relying on how concerned you wish to be within the festivities, how lengthy you’ll be on the island, and the way many individuals will likely be touring with you.
The place to remain for Bahamas Carnival & Junkanoo
In case you’re planning to attend Junkanoo or Bahamas Carnival, the best place to stay in The Bahamas could be areas the place you’ll have quick access to the parade route and be near the most well liked occasions. The finest place to remain general is Nassau in New Windfall, the place there are many resorts and different lodging to select from.
You’ll be able to nonetheless discover different things to do in The Bahamas outdoors of Nassau. Actually, you can too have a good time the Bahamas Carnival and Junkanoo in Grand Bahama, within the Exumas, and in addition within the Abacos. If you’ll be going to Grand Bahama, needless to say the principle occasions occur in Freeport. Within the Exumas, you’ll be capable of keep at an all-inclusive resort in Nice Exuma and take a look at the competition actions in Georgetown. Within the Abacos, you’ll must go to Marsh Harbour to take part in carnival or Junkanoo occasions.
Really feel the frenzy at Junkanoo & Bahamas Carnival!
Image: Sandals Royal Bahamian is the proper spot if you wish to keep near the Junkanoo and Bahamas Carnival parade routes. Absorb the competition power, then retreat to your suite—we’ll be able to make the remainder of your keep simply as spectacular.
There are at all times good instances available at festivals in The Bahamas. Much more so if you’re in Nassau, the place a lot of the island’s tradition comes alive. You’ll be dazzled by the colours and sparkle of the costumes and caught up within the pulse of the music at Junkanoo. There’s a way of pleasure and connection with everybody round you that’s laborious to search out anyplace else. You’ll chuckle, you’ll dance, and also you’ll sprint by Nassau’s streets… and it will really really feel as if something can occur (in a great way) at Junkanoo and Bahamas Carnival!
Staying at Sandals all-inclusive resort in Nassau makes having fun with the festivities easy. You’re simply steps from the motion, and the employees are professionals at mentioning the very best spots and experiences. When it’s time to unwind, you may chill with scrumptious eating, refreshing drinks, a number of bars together with swim-up choices, cozy rooms, and all of the little touches that make stress-free on island time easy and simple.
Knowledgeable tip: Wish to expertise extra Caribbean carnivals? Take a look at our Caribbean Carnival Calendar to see what’s taking place on which island and when (consists of dates and data for Jamaica Carnival and Spicemas in Grenada!).
Image: Island holidays with a mixture of tranquility and high-spirited island power are simply what the very best holidays are made from! Take all of it in from a beachfront Sandals Royal Bahamian perspective.
