Events Pop-Up

Abaco's 2010 Calendar of Events

Dates	Events
January 1st	New Year's Day Junkanoo, Green Turtle Cay (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 Mid-morning community based junkanoo parade & food festival officially begins the New Year. It is an annual reunion and heritage event for hundreds of residents and visitors alike. Junkanoo is the celebrated street festival in the Bahamas; however, this Green Turtle event blends the traditional music and dance of junkanoo with local variants making for unique entertainment.
January 30th-31st	Abaco Art Festival, Marsh Harbour (Contact Abaco Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 367-2158 Abaco based Artists and Artisans are brought together with others from throughout the country to display their products. This event showcases extensive talent and allows patrons the pleasure of purchasing a range of fine and unusual creations.
February 6th	7th Annual Wine Tasting Event, Green Turtle Cay (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 The wonderful evening under the stars is a fundraising event for the annual Island Roots Heritage Festival. The event begins at 6:30pm and continues throughout the evening until 10pm at the Green Turtle Club. Complimenting the various selections of wines will be Bahamian entertainment and delicious hordeurves. Admission fee is $40.00 per person over the age of 18 (sorry, no children will be allowed).
February TBA	Inaugural Wahoo Championship, Marsh Harbour (Contact Abaco Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 367-2158 Making its first appearance in the Abacos chain of fishing tournaments is the Wahoo Champion where the only fish being sought after is the Wahoo. Coordinators anticipate this to be a family fun tournament where participants and their guests would be hosted to offshore and onshore activities.
February 13th	Annual Man-O-War Craft & Trade Fair, Man-O-War Cay (For further information phone: (242) 365-6049 Local crafts, general items, food and drinks are featured at this popular fair that directly benefits the Man-O-War School.
February 26th	Junior Junkanoo, Marsh Harbour (For further information, Phone: (242) 367-3067 Local schools are brought together to compete in the Bahamas most celebrated street festival, Junkanoo. Creating the music, the costumes and dance for this street festival are the youths of Abaco.
February 27th	Senior Junkanoo, Marsh Harbour (For further information, phone: (242) 367-3067 This is a celebration of Bahamian heritage and culture for hundreds of residents and visitors alike to enjoy. This competitive event evokes the passion of Bahamians in the traditional music, costumes and dance of our junkanoo celebration with local senior groups competing for supremacy on this uniquely Bahamian stage.
February 25th	People to People/Winter Residents Reception, Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 This event presents an opportunity for local People to People Volunteers, facilitated by the Ministry of Tourism, Abaco Office, to meet and interact with visitors and Winter Residents in an annual get together. Bahamian music, food and other cultural expressions are highlighted.
March TBA	Barefoot Man Concert, Guana Cay (Nipper's Beach Bar & Grill, Phone: (242) 365-5143 The world famous Nippers Beach Bar & Grill on Guana Cay attracts hundreds of visitors and locals year after year with its live entertainment, its signature drink the nipper juice, Bahamian dishes and its partying atmosphere.
March TBA	Hope Town's Annual Heritage Day, Hope TownM (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242)-367-3067) This Heritage Day is held at the park and museum area of town, generally featuring historical speakers, new book signings, traditional school songs, cultural dances, a mini boat parade with historic flags, sculling, dingy boats with single-oars, arts & crafts, shell collection displays, museum tours, demonstration of threatened loyalist style homes in addition to Bahamian cuisine freshly prepared for purchase.
March 6th	Annual Reef Ball, Abaco Beach Resort, Marsh Harbour (Contact Friends of the Environment, Phone: (242) 367-2721 The Annual Reef Ball recognizes persons in an awards ceremony who have played a significant role in the protection of their environment. The event also serves as a fundraiser for Friends of the Environment.
April TBA	Grand Cay Home-Coming Festival, Grand Cay (For further information phone: (242) 353-1306 The traditional heritage based event called "homecoming" reunites local residents and other domestic visitors in cultural activities, games, food, drinks and worship. These events have tremendous value for tourism promotion and cultural development between the Islands of the Bahamas.
Apr. 2nd -Apr. 4th	Cedar Harbour Homecoming Festival, Cedar Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 These annual events serve to bring local residents and other domestic visitors from neighbouring islands together to share in cultural activities, games, food, drinks and worship. They generate economic activity and lend to the promotion and development of Bahamian heritage indigenous to these communities.
April TBA	Abaco Anglers Fishing Tournament, Elbow Cay (Contact Lighthouse Marina, Phone: (242) 366-0154 This Deep Sea and Bottom Fishing Tournament has been a part of the landscape for more than thirty years. It is family oriented and caters primarily to local fishing enthusiasts and to visitors wishing to visit the Abacos to participate. All levels of fishing abilities, including children are encouraged.
April 21st-24th	Bahamas Billfish Championship Series, Treasure Cay (Treasure Cay Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 365-8801 The Bahamas Billfish Championships sponsored by Rolex, is considered to be the premier fishing series in the Bahamas attracting dozens of seasoned and crafty deep-sea fishermen. This tournament is the second leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championship and is being hosted at Treasure Cay Beach Resort & Marina. Bragging rights are the order of the day as reputations and hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes and cash are up for grab.
April TBA	20th Annual Homer Lowe Memorial Regatta (For further information phone: (242) 367-3086 The Optimist Class and Sunfish Class are the two categories being offered to sailors who wish to compete in this year?s regatta, which will be held in the harbour of Marsh Harbour. Coordinating this sailing event is the Marsh Harbour Sailing Club who will culminate the regatta with an awards presentation ceremony to recognize and present the winners with their prizes.
Apr. 30-May 2	*Signature Event 7th Annual Island Roots Heritage Festival, Green Turtle Cay (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 The seventh annual Island Roots Heritage Festival comes alive on Green Turtle Cay, Abaco beginning April 30 and ending May 2. The weekend celebrates our unique Bahamian heritage through delicious offerings of Bahamian cuisine, unique Bahamian hand made crafts, jewelry, art & interesting historical displays. Genealogical experts will be on hand to research family trees to reinforce the fact that we are all intertwined as family. Informative talks will be offered on the Loyalists, reef preservation, Bahamian flora and fauna, archeological sites in the Bahamas and bush medicine. The island uses the festival to celebrate their ties to their sister city, Key West, Florida and invite family and friends back home to discover their roots.
May TBA	Bertram Hatteras Shootout (Billfish Tourney), Marsh Harbour (Contact Abaco Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 367-2158 The Bertram Hatteras Shootout, commonly referred to as "The Shootout" is the creme de la creme of the tournaments held in the Abacos. Select groups of "High End" clientele grace this event each year seeking to exact revenge against their contemporaries. The Bertram and Hatteras group of companies jointly sponsors this event.
May 11th-14th	23rd Annual Green Turtle Cay Fishing Tournament, GTC (Green Turtle Club & Marina, Phone: (242) 365-4271 Both amateur and expert anglers find this fishing tournament exciting and competitive. Anglers are impressed by the variety of fish found in the surrounding waters of Green Turtle Cay and the many social activities connected to this tournament that offers a fun atmosphere.
May TBA	Sea Spray Resort Fishing Tournament, Elbow Cay (Sea Spray Resort, Phone: (242) 366-0065 Deep Sea Fishing has a home in White Sound, Elbow Cay. This event caters to fishing enthusiasts wishing to visit the Abacos and enjoy the hunt of Blue Marlin and Tuna. It also brings out the novice fishermen and is a promotional event for the resort and the Abacos.
May TBA	HMY Billfish Blast, Marsh Harbour (Contact Abaco Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 367-2158 Considered to be one of the most competitive fishing tournaments to compete in, anglers are usually eager to get out to sea and cast their lines. In addition to the great fishing that goes on, there are many activities that are scheduled during this tournament that make participants and non-anglers very happy.
June TBA	Sandy Point Home-Coming, Sandy Point (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 In addition to "homecoming" activities, this event also promotes the Bahamian sailing sloop, sailing regattas. Usually a mid size competition, the community takes pride in attracting some of the best skippers. Local residents and other visitors from islands of the Bahamas reunite and celebrate in Cultural Activities, Games, Food, Drinks and church service.
June 9th-12th	BBC Boat Harbour Championship, Marsh Harbour (Contact Abaco Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 367-2158 The fourth leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championships sponsored by Rolex is hosted with valuable prizes and major cash awards at Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour. While pursuing for the biggest catch, please take the opportunity to visit the popular tourist strip in Marsh Harbour that offers excellent shopping, tasty Bahamian cuisines and live entertainment.
June 13th-18th	27th Annual Treasure Cay Billfish Championship, Treasure Cay (Treasure Cay Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 365-8801 The Treasure Cay Billfish Championships is a "Mainstay" among the Abaco fishing events with consistency the order of the day. It caters to a cross section of fishermen and is a major promotional event for northern Abaco. The event also features beach volleyball and a native arts and crafts show on the lay day.
June 18th	*Signature Event Junkanoo Summer Festival, Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 It provides a glimpse inside the Bahamian cultural experience, featuring native music, food & drink, dance and calypso bands, arts and crafts, junkanoo parades and the Bahamas Police marching and pop bands.
June TBA	Little Abaco Homecoming, Fox Town (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 The annual homecoming event for this community is prepared by a committee that invites family and friends to return for a weekend of celebrations in Cultural Activities, Games, Food, Drinks and worship. Economic activity is generated community-wide as old family ties and friendship are renewed.
June 23rd-26th	BBC Treasure Cay Championship, Treasure Cay (Treasure Cay Beach Resort, Phone: (242) 365-8801 The final leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championships sponsored by Rolex normally attract scores of seasoned and crafty deep-sea fishermen all vying for the hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes and cash. Participants and spouses in this leg of the championship get to take in world class golf, tennis and one of the top ten beaches in the world.
June 25th	*Signature Event Junkanoo Summer Festival, Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 A Bahamian Street Festival that captures several elements of our culture on a single stage for a dramatic one-night experience over several weeks of the summer. Authentic Bahamian cultural encounters: native music, food, dance, and arts and crafts are presented.
July 2nd-10th	*Signature Event 35th Annual Five Towns Regatta Time in Abaco (Contact Dave & Kathy Ralph, Phone: (242) 367-2677 The Regatta Time sailing event is hoisted between the American and Bahamian Independence celebrations linking both important commemorations. This event that involves primarily American sloops brings dozens of sailing enthusiasts to the Abacos for a fun-filled and exciting racing series. One highlight of the race is the Fiddle Cay Party hosted by "Stranded Naked" Sports Wear. The Series begins at Green Turtle Cay with stops at Gt. Guana Cay and Nippers; Man-O-War Cay dubbed the "Sailing Capital of the World"; Hope Town, home of the world famous candy striped lighthouse and Marsh Harbour, the commercial hub of the Abacos. The regatta is in its 35th year and is an important promotional event for Abacos.
July 2nd	*Signature Event Junkanoo Summer Festival, Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 It provides a glimpse inside the Bahamian cultural experience, featuring native music, food & drink, dance and calypso bands, arts and crafts, junkanoo parades and the Bahamas Police marching and pop bands.
July 9th	*Signature Event Junkanoo Summer Festival Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 A Bahamian Street Festival that captures several elements of our culture on a single stage for a dramatic one-night experience over several weeks of the summer. Authentic Bahamian cultural encounters: native music, food, dance, and arts and crafts are presented.
July 10th	Bahamas Independence Celebrations (Contact the Administration Office, Phone: (242) 367-2343 The Bahamas will celebrate 37 years as an independent nation. Events are planned across the Abacos in commemoration of this significant event in the life of our nation.
July 23rd-25th	5th Annual North Abaco Summer Festival & Power Boat Race, Regatta Village, Treasure Cay (Contact Clifton Bootle Phone: (242) 475-3275 A huge crowd of supporters turn out to cheer on their pick for the fastest boat on sea. Contestants travel from throughout The Bahamas to vie for this title and bragging rights. A golf tournament is also inclusive of this event, which is held at Treasure Cay Beach Resort Golf Course. Bahamians and visitors are also able to indulge in cultural activities during the three day event which includes native music, foods and games.
July 30th-Aug 1st	Black Wood Community Home-Coming, Blackwood (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone (242) 367-3067 A local community homecoming weekend of celebrations; the public is invited to join family and friends in food, drink and entertainment.
August TBA	Moore's Island Home-Coming, Moore's Island (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 This event will encourage a return of indigenous folks and other visitors to share in community activities, food, drinks, worship and entertainment. Activities will lend to the promotion and development of local culture and financial support to these communities.
October 1st-2nd	Abaco Open Water Swim Race, Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 5k triangular race course located in the waterway of Marsh Habour. Bahamian world class swimmers, locals and visiting competitors, swim for the gold or just for fun.
November 6th	Annual Guy Fawkes & Bonefire Celebrations, Green Turtle Cay (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 Featuring the historical Guy Fawkes Competition, where judging of the Best Guy and Dancing of the Guy will be the highlight of the night. Also included in the celebrations are native food, drinks, music and a Junkanoo parade. Hosted by the Island Roots Heritage Festival Committee.
November 26th	11th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival, Hope Town (Contact Hope Town Harbour Lodge, Phone: (242) 366-0095 This day time event features paintings, jewelry & crafts from local and international artists. While viewing the fine and unique pieces that will be on display, satisfy your palet with fine wine, cheese and other gourmet items that will be available for purchase.
November 27th	Hope Town Big Hill Box Cart Derby, Hope Town (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 Box carts of all description are designed and constructed by local Elbow Cay contenders and other patrons, in time to participate in the annual Big Hill Box Cart challenge and fun day. Participants can compete in the junior or senior category, which Officially begins at 12 noon at the Hope Town race site. Proceeds goes towards youth sports development.
December 4th	*Signature Event 7th Annual Abaco Christmas Festival, Marsh Harbour (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 The Ministry of Tourism with business and service clubs of the Abacos host the annual "Abaco Christmas Festival." General activities are: a taste of Abaco's finest cuisine, visit with Santa & free "Toys and games for all Tots;" Arts & Crafts Bazaar, Choirs, Quartets, Soloists, Marching and Calypso Bands, Junkanoo Parades, all day Live Entertainment, concluding with the Marsh Harbour Christmas Boat Parade, and spectacular Fireworks.
December TBA	3rd Annual North Abaco Christmas Celebration (Contact the Abaco Tourist Office, Phone: (242) 367-3067 Although just recently introduced to the Abaco community, this celebration has all of the ingredients of a well seasoned Bahamian event. The event consists of a variety of live entertainment, an assortment of native dishes, a Junkanoo rush out, arts & crafts, games, free toys and an atmosphere that is guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit.