The rich culture and traditions of the Bahamas means that there are holidays,
ceremonies, events and performances taking place all year round.
We recommend that all guests check their trip dates for
public holidays! Most businesses and many shops are closed for public
holidays.
|
Calendar Dates |
Holidays and Events |
|
January 1 |
New Year's Day (public holiday) and Junkanoo
Celebrated best on Green Turtle Cay on New Year's Day, Junkanoo is the
Bahamas' best known festival. It is a riotous explosion of color,
sound, movement and rhythm - a smaller version of Mardi Gras. Junkanoo
is a street festival that blends traditional music and dance with a
community food festival in downtown New Plymouth. Attending the Green
Turtle Junkanoo is an experience you won't want to miss! |
|
March 21 |
Good Friday (public holiday - Friday before Easter Sunday) |
|
March 24 |
Easter
Monday (public holiday - Monday
before Easter Sunday)
|
|
April 7 - 10 |
Bahamas
White Marlin Open |
|
April
13 - 18 |
BBC Central Abaco Championship @ Treasure
Cay
The
Bahamas Billfish Championships - sponsored by Rolex - is considered the
premier fishing series in the Bahamas.
|
|
April 27 - May 2 |
BBC
Marsh Harbour Championship
The
Bahamas Billfish Championships - sponsored by Rolex - is considered the
premier fishing series in the Bahamas.
|
|
May 2 - 4 |
5th Annual Island Roots Heritage Festival
The communities of Green Turtle Cay, Abaco and Key West, Florida enjoy a
common heritage with a similar history. This event is intended to connect familial and historical ties common to residents of these
islands, across geographical and national lines, furthering the “Sister
City” concept. Descendants of both areas will be brought together to
share in Cultural Activities, Games, Food, Drinks and Worship.
This weekend event is held in the historic village of New Plymouth, Green
Turtle Cay, which is only accessible by boat. Green Turtle Ferry services
this area from the Treasure Cay Ferry Dock, and will have ferries running
all day and night to accommodate persons wishing to travel to the event. |
|
May 1 - 31 |
Green Turtle Cay Spring Arts Festival
Highlights include a month long art exhibition of works by noted Bahamian
painter Alton Lowe; a concert featuring the Key West Chorus, and drama
productions.
|
|
May 12 |
Whit Monday - Pentecostal Monday (public holiday) |
|
June
6 |
Labour Day (public holiday)
|
|
June
1 - 6 |
Treasure
Cay Championship
The
Bahamas Billfish Championships - sponsored by Rolex - is considered the
premier fishing series in the Bahamas.
|
|
June
8 - 13
|
25th
Annual Treasure Cay International Billfish Tournament
Sponsored by Treasure Cay Resort and Marina.
A qualifier for IGFA's International Tournament of Champions and the World
Sailfish Championship, the event is a modified release tournament format
that offers four days of fishing.
|
|
June 15 |
Treasure Cay
Annual Arts and Crafts Show
Scheduled to coordinate annually with the
Treasure Cay Billfish fishing tournament, this show features a wide array of
local art & crafts on sale and on display.
|
|
June
23 - July 4 |
Junkanoo Summer Street Festival - The Abacos
This Street Festival caters to both visitors
and residents of The Abacos. It captures several elements of our culture on
a single stage for a dramatic one-night experience over four weeks during
the summer on Friday nights. In addition to a Junkanoo parade, the festive
atmosphere will include local and national music, food, dance, arts and
crafts, in addition to kids’ activities.
|
|
July
3 - 11 |
Five Towns
Regatta Time In Abaco
2008 is the 33rd consecutive year that a series
of races and social events are planned and organized around the Island and
surrounding Cays. The feature event is an
exciting week long sailboat race on the Sea of Abaco. Onshore festivities
include nightly entertainment, free cocktail parties, beach picnics,
cultural activities and a grand finale party.
|
|
July 10 |
Independence Day (public holiday)
Bahamas Independence celebrations in 2008 commemorate
35 years as an independent nation.
|
|
July 27 |
Barefoot Man Concert
Hundreds of visitors and locals are drawn to world-famous
Nipper's Beach Bar & Grill on Great Guana Cay year after year to see the
Barefoot Man perform live in a free concert.
|
|
August 1 |
Emancipation Day (public holiday)
The first Monday in August commemorates
the 1834 slave emancipation. It is usually celebrated with a Junkanoo
rush out, a day of beaching, sailing, and regattas in the Out Islands.
|
|
August 21 - 23 |
All Abaco Sailing Regatta
An exciting weekend of championship native sloop racing. Highlights of
onshore festivities include a Junkanoo Parade, food fest and fashion show
onshore festivities
|
|
October 13 |
Discovery Day (public holiday)
Also known as Columbus Day, this
holiday commemorates
Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. Many historians
believe that Columbus made landfall in the New World in the
Bahamas on October 12, 1492.
|
|
November 11 |
Remembrance Day
(public holiday)
Also
known as Veterans Day, this holiday commemorates the veterans who served and
gave their lives in defense of their nation. Church services are
widely held throughout the Bahamas.
|
|
December
25 |
Christmas Day
(public holiday)
Christmas is a public holiday in the Bahamas. Families come together
to celebrate, share dinner, and exchange gifts.
|
|
December 26 |
Boxing Day (public
holiday)
Boxing Day is a traditional
English holiday. The day originated when
slaves were given the boxes left over from
their master’s gifts on the day after Christmas. In the Bahamas, these
boxes often came from England and were crafted from fine wood - hence the
holiday became known as Boxing Day.
Junkanoo Parades are held in Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay,
and downtown Marsh Harbour with participants wearing brilliant colorful
costumes. These are an annual celebration of Bahamian heritage, and
involves community groups competing for top honors for costumes. It is
uniquely Bahamian. |
