Emancipation Day Celebrations

This public holiday celebrates the 1834 emancipation of all slaves on the islands and is sometimes referred to as August Monday. It starts off with an early morning "Junkanoo Rushout", a dance of two steps forward, one step back accompanied by drums, whistles and bells. The rushout ends at the Fox Hill Parade Grounds, where there are a number of cultural events such as the plaiting of the maypole and the "climbing the greasy pole" contest. There follows an evening of music and cook-outs (sale of Bahamian Food).