32nd Annual Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival

Saturday, June 7
11 am - 8 pm
Grand Avenue and Douglas Road
Coconut Grove
305.448.9501

This Bahamian-style celebration, the nation's largest black heritage festival, commemorates the early roots of Coconut Grove through arts, culture, heritage and music. It's a fun-filled event with an energetic, colorful parade of brightly costumed people gyrating and dancing to the rhythmic accompaniment of cowbells, drums and whistles. Goombay, the Bantu word for "rhythm," combines the traditional music of Africa with colonial influences and also refers to the goatskin drum used to produce the rolling rhythm of this type of music. The stars of the festival are the 55-member Royal Bahamas Police Band and native junkanoo groups. Other highlights include local and nationally known recording artists performing along Grand Avenue, the NBA Rhythm & Rims 18-wheeler that unfolds into a basketball theme park for all ages, and food, arts and crafts representing the rich Caribbean culture.