25 Best Performing Arts in Bahamas

Since 1993, Festival Noel has marked the official start to the Christmas season. Traditionally held the first Friday evening in December at the Rand Nature Centre, this wine- and food-tasting event and art show displays local talent. Proceeds aid the Bahamas National Trust for the development and restoration of national parks on Grand Bahama Island.

March's Bahamian Music and Heritage Festival brings local and nationally known musicians to George Town, along with arts and crafts, Bahamas sloop exhibitions, storytelling, singing, poetry reading, and gospel music.

Every summer a party crowd gathers for The Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association's annual swim race and daylong beach bash. Grand Bahama residents of all ages swim the sea in honor and support of BASRA's volunteer force, who in conjunction with The Bahamas Defense Force and the U.S. Coast Guard help people in distress. Live music, food and drink tents, and a bikini-friendly, end-of-summer party atmosphere make this a memorable event.

The annual Cat Island Rake 'n' Scrape Festival celebrating indigenous music is held in early June on Bahamian Labour Day weekend. Each day the festivities begin with breakfast and lunch in the park, with games of dominoes and checkers. At 7 pm, the site is cleared for the Battle of the Rake 'n' Scrape Bands. You can also enjoy a gospel concert, cultural dance troupes, a children's corner with games, arts and crafts, and a fishers' and farmers' market. Nearby restaurants expand their menus for the after-parties. Between 1,000 and 2,000 people attend and fill local hotels, inns, and guesthouses, so book early. Two mail boats, Bahamasair, and private charters serve the festival, which takes place in the town square near Arthur's Town Airport.

Growing in popularity (thanks to its Kalik Beer sponsorship), the annual Cat Island Regatta, held on the beach in New Bight over the Emancipation holiday weekend in early August, has parties, live music, games, dancing, and lots of island cooking. Some 30–40 island sloops compete in various classes over three days. Expect some Rake ’n’ Scrape and party music from national and local live entertainers. Games can include dominoes, water relay races, ugliest man, water balloon toss, hula hoop relays, coconut races, and more. Book flights and lodging well in advance.

This festival celebrating Deep Creek's cultural heritage, featuring live Rake 'n' Scrape performances, takes place in June in Rock Sound.

Though October 12 is now known as National Heroes Day across The Bahamas, it was not too long ago commemorated as "Discovery Day." However, the island of San Salvador continues to recognize the day Christopher Columbus arrived in the new world, since he landed right on one of their beaches. The Discovery Day Homecoming Festival is a week-long event that takes places at various venues across the island, including Graham’s Harbour on the far north of the island and Long Bay, where memorials mark the spot where Columbus landed. Festival days depend on when the public holiday falls, but always include food, drink, craft, a mix of live bands, DJs, and fun games such as sack races, coconut barking, pineapple eating, beer drinking, and a staged cultural dancing show. An evening ecumenical service and gospel concert usually kicks things off while a Beach Bash closes out the festivities.

The George Town Cruising Regatta in February is 10 days of festivities, including sailing, a conch-blowing contest, dance, food and entertainment, and sports competitions.

The Globe Princess hosts a showing of one current film each night at 8:15 pm. Movies change weekly. The concession serves some of the best hamburgers in town and is open for lunch 11–3 weekdays.

Goombay Summer Festival—traditional summertime parties with dance troupes, musical groups, and lots of local food and crafts—takes place in Marsh Harbour.

Sailing sloops from throughout the country meet in July for various sailing races, and crowd-pleasing favorite, the sculling competition. Onshore festivities take place at Smith's Point and include Junkanoo parades, dancing, live music, and food and drink.

Early to mid-February, Elbow Cay comes alive with the sound of music during this week-long festival. Leading songwriters from around the world perform original songs at venues across the island.

More oriented to locals and their families, and sponsored by the Morton Salt Company, this homecoming-type heritage festival takes place over the Emancipation holiday weekend in early August. Most activities are in Matthew Town's marketplace, with a Sunday Beach Bash on Farquharson Beach, 8 miles north of the town. Visitors are most welcome and encouraged to join in. Celebrations include an ecumenical church service, gospel choirs, a Junkanoo rush-out, fireworks, live bands, games, and cultural activities, including the plaiting of the maypole and climbing the greasy pole. Along with festival staples, such as barbecued meats and fresh seafood, it's a great chance to savor some of the island's more unusual delicacies, such as spiced souses and baked breads and tarts.

Many Abaco communities have their own Junkanoo celebrations; Hope Town has a New Year's Eve children's rush-out for locals and visitors to join in. Parades in The Abacos are much smaller and more intimate than in Nassau—and far less competitive.

Inagua puts on spirited Junkanoo parades on Boxing Day, December 26, and New Year's Day. Parades start at 4:30 am; you have to make the decision to stay up all night or get up early. There's food at the fish fry at Kiwanis Park in the center of town where the parades end.

This annual celebration happens in Rock Sound and on Harbour Island on December 26. Celebrations start around 7 pm.

The Exumas' Junkanoo Parade on New Year's Day starts at 7 pm in George Town and normally ends around 10 pm at Regatta Park. Dancing, barbecues, and music happen before and after the parade.

The Junkanoo Summer Festival in June and July is held beachside at The Fish Fry in George Town and features local and visiting bands, kids' sunfish sailing, arts and crafts, and boat-building displays. It typically takes place on a Saturday afternoon.

The annual Long Island Sailing Regatta, featuring Bahamian-made boats, is a three-day event the first weekend of June. Held in Salt Pond, the regatta is the island's biggest event and The Bahamas' second-largest regatta, attracting competitors from all over the islands. Booths featuring handmade crafts and Bahamian food and drink dot the site, and local bands provide lively entertainment beginning at sundown. Salt Pond is 10 miles south of Simms.

In April the National Family Islands Regatta is the Bahamas' most important yachting event. Starting the race in Elizabeth Harbour in George Town, island-made wooden sloops compete for trophies. Onshore, the town is a weeklong riot of Junkanoo parades, Goombay music, and arts-and-crafts fairs.

One of the oldest and most important traditions in The Bahamas, the National Island Family Regatta brings together sailors and families during the last weekend in April.

Junkanoo is the national festival of The Bahamas, named after an African tribal chief named "John Canoe," who demanded the right to celebrate with his people after being brought to the West Indies in slavery. Starting in the evening on January 1 and running into the early morning hours, the downtown streets of Freeport come alive with larger-than-life costumed dancers jumping to the sounds of drums, whistles, and cowbells. At the end of January, watch local primary and secondary students take to the streets in the same colorful, cultural garb for Junior Junkanoo.

Each October this regatta provides five days of exciting competition of Bahamian Class A, B, and C boats. Onshore activities based on Harbour Island include live bands, Bahamian music, cultural shows, food, and drink.

This homecoming celebration on the East End of the island held annually on Easter Monday features live music, coconut food sampling, coconut crafts, coconut bowling, and more.

Regattas in The Abacos is a fun-filled 10-day event held in late June or early July, stretching over several islands, with races and plenty of onshore parties.