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| photo by Paula Boyd Farrington |
by Paula Boyd Farrington
Grand Bahama celebrated Labour Day — the annual holiday honoring the Bahamian workforce — with a vibrant and well-attended Junkanoo Parade in downtown Freeport, Friday evening, June 3, 2011.
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| photo by Paula Boyd Farrington |
Featuring top Junkanoo groups,
The Swingers and
Majestic Crusaders, from Grand Bahama, and the
Saxon's and
Valley Boys from Nassau, New Providence Island, the
Junkanoo: Rush for Peace Parade was a bright, beautiful display of meticulously handcrafted colorful costumes, dancing, heart-thumping rhythms of goat-skin drums, cow bells, conch horns, whistles, and big brass trumpets, trombones, and tubas!
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| photo by Paula Boyd Farrington |
Thousands enjoyed the family-friendly event on an especially lovely and breezy evening. This first Grand Bahama Junkanoo Rush to be held on the Labour Day holiday was a huge success, with many expressing hopes that this would become an annual event. Community thanks go to the
major corporate sponsors who made it possible:
The Grand Bahama Port Authority,
Grand Bahama Power Company,
Burns House, and
Kalik Beer (named for the kalik-kalik-kalik sound the cow bells make when they shake). Countless community volunteers also worked long and hard to make this dazzling display of cultural pride and art happen. Bravo to all the participants!
(And if you're reading this from afar and want to catch the next major unforgettable Junkanoo spectacle, plan to be on
Grand Bahama Island for the traditional New Year's Day 2012 Junkanoo Parade!)
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| photo by Paula Boyd Farrington |
