NASSAU, BAHAMAS, August 4, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- NASSAU, Bahamas - The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is closing its sizzling summer celebrations with Goombay Summer Festival at Arawak Cay in Nassau every Friday this month with five weeks of rich, cultural excitement and Bahamian heritage. Coming off the heels of the Junkanoo Summer Festival, Goombay Summer Festival provides all the fun of Junkanoo, but with a different beat and feel. The Festival acts as summertime climax to all the festivities offered throughout the season offering the best in Bahamian cuisine, arts, crafts and entertainment.

First launched in 1974, the Goombay Summer Festival showcases various cultural delights like traditional Goombay Dancers, Ring Play, Rake n’ Scrape Bands, Limbo and Fire Dancers, food demonstrations, Androsia Fashion, a Kids’ Corner, Magic Man, Face Painters, People to People Booth, a thrilling Junkanoo Rush Out and a grand Bahamian concert.

Director of Events in the Ministry of Tourism Charity Armbrister said this year’s Goombay is new and improved, “With Goombay Summer Festival, we will have a lot more cultural activities and the beat is different,” she said. “As opposed to having Junkanoo competitions every week, it will be all about the Bahamian artists performing every week. We are trying to include as many of the local bands as possible.”

Some of the artists that will be performing during Goombay Summer Festival include Ronnie Butler, Ting-Em Dem, Visage, the Spank Band, KB, Stillie, Puzzle and D’Mac among others.

“We are going to have people like Matelus Chipman, Action Jackson and we are going to be doing a lot of Bahamian competitions. So it is really going to be a truly Bahamian experience,” Ms. Armbrister said. The events director said Junkanoo Summer Festival and Goombay Summer Festival are geared towards making sure tourists and locals have great cultural events to attend.

To make attending the Festival even easier, tourists are shuttled to the events from local hotels.

“Visitors are coming every hour and the buses are coming full. While we are doing this for ourselves, we want to ensure that the visitors are experiencing what Bahamians do. We are also giving them the opportunity to spend a few more dollars with us,” Ms. Armbrister said.

“We want to invite everyone to come out. It’s a lot of fun and we are sure that everyone will have a great time because it is a family event.”

Goombay Summer Festival is a national event and will be held on various Family Islands. For more details, visit www.bahamas.com/summerfestivals.

About The Islands of The Bahamas

The Islands of The Bahamas have a place in the sun for everyone from Nassau and Paradise Island to Grand Bahama to The Abaco Islands, The Exuma Islands, Harbour Island, Long Island and others. Each island has its own personality and attractions for a variety of vacation styles with some of the world’s best golf, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, boating, as well as, shopping and dining. The destination offers an easily accessible tropical getaway and provides convenience for travelers with pre-clearance through U.S. customs and immigration, and the Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S. dollar. Do everything or do nothing, just remember It’s Better in The Bahamas. For more information on travel packages, activities and accommodations, call 1-800-Bahamas or visit their website at http://www.Bahamas.com

Look for The Bahamas on the web on:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bahamas/108113092544199
Twitter - https://twitter.com/visitthebahamas
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/VisittheBahamas

Anita Johnson-Patty
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
1-800-224-2627
email us here