NASSAU, BAHAMAS – If you’ve ever attended a Junkanoo parade, you know the frustration of waiting for the next group to make its way down Bay Street.
Sometimes, those gaps can last more than thirty minutes.
So, with thousands expected to line Bay and Shirley Streets this holiday season, organizers say they’re looking at ways to keep the entertainment going.
However, Parades Management Team Chairman Denzil Rolle says those delays aren’t always caused by poor organization.
Denzil Rolle – Chairman, Parades Management Team
“Each Junkanoo group has a starting time, and before they start, the music kicks in, and in most cases the group is not gonna move until the music is locked in their mind, they say they’re ready, and so we move.”
“We were thinking about putting some entertainers in between—it may not happen this year—just so the patrons can see some kind of activity in between the groups.”
However, that’s not the only concern organizers are addressing.
A recently released parade flyer sparked confusion after listing Bay Street only, leaving some to question whether Shirley Street had been removed from the route.
Denzil Rolle – Chairman, Parades Management Team
“All it was saying: if you’re starting on Bay Street, as an A group you have 70 minutes and a B group you have 50 minutes. Now, that’s something I would expect most seasoned Junkanooers to know, because we still gonna have the Shirley Street rush, and for the A category groups the third lap is an option to them based on the timing of the parade.”
Dr. Christopher Curry – Chairman, National Junkanoo Authority
“We are already courting corporate entities that will assist with funding and logistics. One of the concerns we have as an archipelagic nation, you know, logistics is always a challenge with shipping materials to Family Island schools that are registered.
“So if you have a Junkanoo parade in Inagua, you know you have to have shipping in advance, and so we have been working through those issues, and we are very much committed to Family Island parades.”
Also, while organizers say some changes may not be ready for this year’s parades, they’re hoping to make the Junkanoo experience more enjoyable for both participants and spectators.
