January 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.
New Year's Day Sailing Regatta
, Nassau and Paradise Island.
Three dozen or more sailing sloops, ranging from 5 to 8.5m (16-28 ft.), converge off Montagu Bay in a battle for bragging rights organized by The Bahamas Boat Owners Association.
Annual Bahamas Wahoo Championships
, Berry Islands.
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.
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.
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 Friday, then return to Nassau at 8pm on Saturday from the Farmer's Cay Dock. First Friday and Saturday in February.
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.
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 third week of April.
Bahamas Billfish Championship
This annual event is divided into four competitions, taking place at four different venues and times, spanning April to June. Anglers can fish any and all of the tournaments taking place at Marsh Harbour (third week of Apr), Harbour Island (first week of May), Spanish Cay (mid-May), and Treasure Cay (first week to second week of June).
Bahamas White Marlin Open
The Abacos
This is a rendezvous off Abaco drawing anglers seeking an action-packed billfish tournament. The headquarters is the Abaco Beach Resort & Marina..
Long Island Regatta
Salt Pond, Long Island
This even sees some 40 to 50 sailing sloops from throughout The Bahamas compete in three classes for trophies and cash prizes. Onshore, dancing to indigenous "rake 'n' scrape" music, sporting events, and local food specialties for sale make for a carnival-like atmosphere. Late May.
Labour Day
Annual Public Holiday in the Bahamas
Whit Monday
Annual Public Holiday in the Bahamas
Eleuthera Pineapple Festiva
l, 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.
Regatta Time in Abaco
This weeklong regatta with a series of five sailboat races in the Sea of Abaco with entertainment cultural activities and a grand finale party.
Regatta Time in Abaco website
Independence Day
- Annual Public Holiday in the Bahamas
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.
Emancipation Day
The first Monday each August commemorates the emancipation of slaves in 1834.
Cat Island Regatta
Cat Island in th Southern Bahamas hosts a fantastic weekend of festive events, including sloop races, live "rake 'n' scrape" bands, quadrille dancing and plenty of local cuisine.
All Abaco Sailing Regatta
Championship sailing races at Treasure Cay Harbour each September.
Discovery Day
The landing of Christopher Columbus is celebrated throughout The Bahamas.
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 great chance to experience authentic Bahamian food, traditional music, and storytelling.
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 Bimini Sands Resort & Marina.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.
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. December 26.
Please note: Some dates are subject to change annually.
