Preparations on their way for the 34th annual Goombay Festival

The streets of Coconut Grove will be flooded with traditional Bahamian food, arts and crafts, entertainment, and plenty of Junkanoos at the 34th annual Goombay Festival the weekend of June 3 – 6.

The festival, named after the traditional Bahamian drum music, was brought to the Grove in 1976 to commemorate the Bahamian people who had settled the area in the early 19^th century and as an effort to keep the culture in the area alive.

The festival has become a signature event and will kick off with a reception at the Coco Walk Chili’s at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. Other activities taking place over the weekend include a historical luncheon of pioneers, opportunities for kids to create their own Junkanoo costumes and will culminate into the street festival that will take over from Douglas Rd. to Mcdonald from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 6.

The street festival will have vendors offering both Bahamian and American food, art, crafts, educational experiences, and many sponsors will be handing out free giveaways to visitors while the Junkanoo band makes music with their traditional goat skin drums and horns and dancing in their wild costumes.

“It’s a commemoration of the Bahamians coming to the Grove,” said Dorothy  P. Lee, chairman of the board of The Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove, Inc. “It’s just a jolly good time for everyone involved.”

A complete schedule of the Festival events can be found on their website.

http://www.goombayfestivalcoconutgrove.com/