RSSJanuary
Junkanoo. This Mardi Gras-style festival begins 2 or 3 hours before dawn on New Year's Day. Throngs of cavorting, costumed figures prance through Nassau, Freeport/Lucaya, and the Out Islands. Jubilant men, women, and children wear elaborate headdresses and festive apparel as they celebrate their African heritage with music and dance. Mini-Junkanoos, in which visitors can participate, are regular events. Local tourist offices will advise the best locations to see the festivities. January 1, 2005.
New Year's Day Sailing Regatta, Nassau and Paradise Island. Three dozen or more sailing sloops, ranging from 5m to 8.5m (17 ft.-28 ft.), converge off Montagu Bay in a battle for bragging rights organized by The Bahamas Boat Owners Association. Early January.
Annual Bahamas Wahoo Championships, the Abacos. Anglers from all over America take up the tough challenge to bait one of the fastest fish in the ocean reaching speeds up to 70 mph. This fete takes place at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour .
February
The Mid-Winter Wahoo, Bimini. The Bimini Big Game Resort & Marina draws Hemingway look-alikes and other anglers to this winter event that is heavily attended by Floridians. Early February.
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Farmer's Cay Festival. This festival is a rendezvous for yachtsmen cruising The Exuma Islands and a homecoming for the people of Farmer's Cay, Exuma. Boat excursions will depart Nassau at Potter's Cay for the festival at 8pm on February 4, then return to Nassau at 8pm on February 5 from the Farmer's Cay Dock. February 4 and 5, 2005 (always the first Fri and Sat in Feb).
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March
Bacardi Billfish Tournament, Freeport. A prestigious weeklong tournament attracting the Who's Who of deep-sea fishing. Headquarters is the Port Lucaya Resort & Yacht Club. Mid-March.
April
Bahamas Family Island Regatta, George Town, the Exumas. Featuring Bahamian craft sloops, these celebrated boat races are held in Elizabeth Harbour. There's also a variety of onshore activities including basketball, a skipper's party, and a Junkanoo parade. Usually last week of April.
Bahamas Billfish North Abaco Championship, Walker's Cay in the Abacos. Six action-packed tournaments draw anglers in pursuit of the big one, and they are highly competitive. April to June.
May
Treasure Cay Billfish Championship, the Abacos. The Abaco Beach Resort & Marina is one of the finest in the Out Islands, and its marina attracts fishing boats from throughout Florida, especially during this May billfish championship. Dates vary.
Bahamas White Marlin Open. This is a rendezvous off Abaco drawing anglers seeking an action-packed billfish tournament. The headquarters is the Abaco Beach Resort & Marina. Dates vary.
Walkers Cay Billfish Championship. The same participants seem to show up year after year to the big-game-fishing capital of the world. Headquarters for the event is the Walkers Cay Hotel & Marina. Dates vary.
Long Island Regatta, Salt Pond, Long Island, sees some 40 to 50 sailing sloops from throughout The Bahamas compete in three classes for trophies and cash prizes. Onshore, there are dancing to indigenous "rake 'n' scrape" music, sporting events, and local food specialties for sale, all of which makes for a carnival-like atmosphere. Late May.
June
Eleuthera Pineapple Festival, Gregory Town, Eleuthera. This celebration devoted to the island's succulent pineapple features a Junkanoo parade, craft displays, dancing, a pineapple recipe contest, tours of pineapple farms, and a "pineathalon" -- a .5km ( 1/4-mile) swim, 5.5km (3 1/2-mile) run, and 6.5km (4-mile) bike ride. First week of June.
July
Annual Racing Time in Abaco, Marsh Harbour. This weeklong regatta features a series of five sailboat races in the Sea of Abaco. Onshore festivities include nightly entertainment, cocktail parties, beach picnics, cultural activities, and a grand finale party. July 2 to 9, 2005.
Independence Week. Independence celebrations are marked throughout the islands by festivities, parades, and fireworks. It all culminates on Independence Day, July 10.
Bahamas Summer Boating Fling/Flotilla. Boating enthusiasts and yachters make the 5-day crossing from Florida to The Bahamas (Port Lucaya's marina on Grand Bahama Island) in a flotilla of boats guided by a lead boat. All "flings" depart from the Radisson Bahia Mar Resort & Yacht Center in Fort Lauderdale. End of July to beginning of August.
AugustEmancipation Day. The first Monday in August commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1834. A highlight of this holiday is an early-morning "Junkanoo Rushout" starting at 4am in Fox Hill Village in Nassau, followed by an afternoon of "cook-outs," cultural events such as climbing a greased pole and the plaiting of the Maypole. This day falls on the first Monday in August.
Cat Island Regatta, Southern Bahamas. Sleepy Cat Island comes alive in the weekend of festive events, including sloop races, live "rake 'n' scrape" bands, quadrille dancing, old-fashioned contests and games, and local cuisine. Early August.
September
Grand Bahama Junkanoo Carnival. This is an exciting weekend of cultural festivities, including a Junkanoo Carnival, a parade evocative of the famous carnival at Trinidad, and open-air concerts featuring the hottest bands. Last week in September.
All Abaco Sailing Regatta: Local sailing sloops rendezvous at Treasure Cay Harbour for a series of championship races and onshore festivities. Late September.
October
Discovery Day. The New World landing of Christopher Columbus, traditionally said to be the island of San Salvador, is celebrated throughout The Bahamas. Naturally, San Salvador has a parade every year on October 12.
North Eleuthera Sailing Regatta. Native sailing sloops take to the waters of North Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Spanish Wells in a weekend of championship races. Mid-October.
Great Bahamas Seafood and Heritage Festival, Heritage Village, Arawak Cay. This October festival is a combination of the Great Seafood Festival and Heritage festival. A cultural affair, showcasing authentic Bahamian cuisine, traditional music, and storytelling.
November
Guy Fawkes Day: The best celebrations are in Nassau. Nighttime parades through the streets are held on many of the islands, culminating in the hanging and burning of Guy Fawkes, an effigy of the British malefactor who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 in London. It usually takes place around November 5, but check with island tourist offices.
Bimini Big Game Fishing Club All Wahoo Tournament. Anglers take up the tough challenge of baiting one of the fastest fishes in the ocean. Headquarters is the Port Lucaya Resort and Yacht Club. Mid-November.
Annual One Bahamas Music & Heritage Festival. This 3-day celebration is staged at both Nassau and Paradise Island to celebrate national unity. Highlights include concerts featuring top Bahamian performing artists. Events include "fun walks" on the island and other activities. Last week of November.
December
Junkanoo Boxing Day. High-energy Junkanoo parades and celebrations are held throughout the islands on December 26. Many of these activities are repeated on New Year's Day (see "January," above).
