Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival

Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival

Early June

The Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival is held over two days in early June each year in Coconut Grove, Fla. It was founded to commemorate the cultural and historical influence of South Florida's first black residents: the workers and craftsmen who arrived in Miami in the early 1800s to build the first hotel in Coconut Grove.
Launching in 1976, the free festival celebrates the music, art, culture, and heritage of the Bahamas and of multi-ethnic Miami with a parade, performances, ethnic food, and a variety of basketball and music activities. The event is named for the traditional music of the Bahamas, which blends African and colonial European influences. Goombay, which means "rhythm" in the Bantu language, is also the name for the goatskin drum that provides the beat for this type of Bahamian music. The festival, which was established as a non-profit organization by William R. Rolle and nine other activists, now draws about 300,000 participants to its colorful attractions.

CONTACTS:
Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove, Inc.
P.O. Box 330052
Miami, FL 33133
800-891-7811; fax: 954-442-0427
www.goombayfestivalcoconutgrove.com/index.html