Your Complete Guide to Spending Christmas in the Bahamas
If you are looking for a tropical escape this holiday season, the Bahamas may be the ideal destination.
The Bahamas is a sovereign country in the Lucayan Archipelago in the West Indies. It consists of 16 major islands stretched across 100,000 square miles of clear ocean water. It offers a resort culture of lazing by the beach, dancing, and art.
It’s never a bad time to visit the Bahamas, but if you are looking to escape the cold for the holiday season, it makes a prime vacation spot. Here are some things you can do when you’re in the area.
Port Lucaya Marketplace
Port Lucaya Marketplace is the biggest shopping complex in the Bahamas. Its 40 shops and boutiques offer a variety of unique goods. During the Christmas season, it is decorated with lights and ornaments and features a huge Christmas tree at its center. It’s a great place to do some holiday shopping.
Other markets in the Bahamas that make terrific holiday shopping destinations include the Nassau Straw Market, Festival Place and McKinney Straw Market.
The Christmas Junkanoo Festival
The Christmas Junkanoo Festival happens on December 26. Thousands of locals and tourists come out in colorful costumes to celebrate the culture of the area. Bands play a variety of soca, reggae, roots and other genres of Caribbean music. You can also go to Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Bimini or Abaco to check out the Junkanoo Parade.
The Junkanoo Festival pays honor to the days of plantations and slaves. In the days of old, plantation owners would receive gifts from family and friends living in England in hand-crafted wooden boxes. After opening the gifts, they would give the boxes to their slaves and allow them 3 days off work kicking off on Boxing Day.
Bahamians keep the spirit alive with a day of African dances performed to the sound of cowbells, homemade drums, and whistles. It is a celebration of freedom. It runs from Boxing Day to New Years.
The Christmas Tree Lighting in Pompey Square
The Christmas Tree Lighting happens on December 1. The Downtown Nassau area is transformed into a Bahamian wonderland for the occasion as Bay St. will be decked out with lights, decorations, and a unique Bahamian tree. The switch will be flicked on at 6 PM. There will also be an entertainment program featuring a marching band, singing and a drama performance.
Hit the Beach
There are not many places in the world where you can hit the beach on Christmas Day, but the warm weather of the Bahamas makes it the perfect winter beach destination. There are plenty of parties that happen on the beach during the holiday season, and they are the place to be on New Year’s Eve.
Eat Terrific Food
Food plays a major role in the Bahamian Christmas celebrations. While on vacation, you won’t want to miss out on delicacies like black cake, conch dishes, pepper pot, garlic pork and ham. You can also enjoy tropical beverages like sorrel, falernum, shandy, sweet potato fly, mauby and a variety of rum and wines.
New Year’s at Aura Nightclub
If you are still in the Bahamas for New Year’s you can take advantage of the exciting nightlife. Aura Nightclub is one well-known hot spot. They offer a free glass of champagne to all guests and bottle service is available as well. Look forward to dancing the night away.
The Christmas Festival
This event serves as a marketplace where local artisans can display arts and crafts products that make for terrific holiday gifts. There will also be a tree lighting ceremony. It happens at Mayue Plaza in Andros Town.
If you are looking for a tropical break for the holiday season, the Bahamas is the place to be. The area offers so many terrific things to see and do. What will you be up to when you get to town?
Read more of A Christmas Blog or Shop Now at Schmidt Christmas Market
