Junkanoo Scoring Explained

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Each year dozens of Junkanoo judges descend on the downtown district to score the two major parades. While we’ve all played amatuer judge a time or two, picking out the group we think is fit to take home the title of Boxing Day or New Year’s parade champions. There is actually a complex scoring process each judge takes into consideration.

If you’ve ever attended or watched a Junkanoo parade, chances are you’ve done the mental score calculations for costumes, music, performance  and lead pieces.

And, you’ve probably thought about why the group you scored the highest didn’t take home the top prize, leaving you to wonder how do the real judges score the parades? 

Well, who better to ask than former Deputy Chairman for the Parade Management Team with Responsibility for Judges V. Charmaine Rolle.

The life-long Junkanooer says judges go through rigorous training in preparation to score these major categories.

One of the most useful tools for any judge is the score card that outlines what judges are looking for.

When it comes to scoring all categories are not created equal as Rolle says some have higher possible scores than others.

And, scoring is not only about gaining points, there are also those dreaded penalties that Rolle says can easily knock a group from top spot to hot last.

Now, not only is scoring tedious, it’s also sometimes controversial. Take for instance in 2019, when both the Boxing Day and New Years Day parade results were contested.

But, after a 2-year break, this year Junkanooers are hoping to have more fun and less drama.