Bahamas Carnival: Has the Festival Lost Its Appeal?

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Introduced 11 years ago, Bahamas Carnival has been a subject of national cultural discussions.

Formerly known as Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival, it was initiated in 2015 by the Christie Administration.

In 2018, under the Minnis administration, the government withdrew all financial support for the festival.

Since then, online discussions have raised questions about the event’s sustainability, indicating a possible decline in attendance.

Logistics Manager for Carnival Band Bahamas Masqueraders, Ashad Bowe, says the perception comes from a misunderstanding that the carnival is solely focused on the road march.

Ashad Bowe – Logistics Manager, Bahamas Masquraders

“Our season starts in February. We have a launch event in March, we have a glow party, we have a boat event on Easter Monday, we have a brunch. All of the events are well attended by the locals.”

According to reports in 2015, there were 5,000 costumed participants in the road march, with a majority being locals.

In 2025, there were 1,500 costumed participants, of which 80% were visitors.

Bowe revealing that for the upcoming road march on June 6, their band alone has over 300 individuals registered for the road parade.

He says that most of them are international guests, which he believes reflects the growth and economic impact of the event.

Ashad Bowe – Logistics Manager, Bahamas Masquraders

“You have a hundred persons flying in. That’s a hundred plane tickets. That’s a hundred taxi rides, or rental cars or ubers, they have to sleep somewhere, they have to eat. A lot of them have to get their makeup done, they have to get haircuts, and they get to experience The Bahamas.”

From the scenic route of the road march, to scheduling the parade during Labour Day Weekend, Bowe notes The Bahamas experience he mentioned is strategically curated by the organizers.

Ashad Bowe – Logistics Manager, Bahamas Masquraders

“If you come in on a Thursday, you can experience Junkanoo on a Friday, and carnival on a Saturday. It’s cultural exposure, it’s cultural overload.”