Every year millions of people decide to spend Christmas and New Years in another state, country or continent. For those who want to escape to the sunny south, but still be relatively close to home, vacationing in the Bahamas is a great alternative. Of the seven hundred islands that make up the Bahamas, Elbow Cay, a small island in the Abacos, is a wonderful place to celebrate the season with friends and family.
Christmas and New Years are unique to Elbow Cay. The first thing that everyone notices on vacation is the Hope Town Lighthouse, located in the north-central part of the island. The lighthouse has thousands of lights strung from its observation deck to its base. Every night, the lighthouse is turned on, as its lights shine bright into the night. Many houses and restaurants also prepare for the holidays with lights and decorations, although it looks a bit strange without the white snow of winter.
The Christmas season also brings many events, such as the annual Christmas musical at the local church. Local children rehearse the play for months, as well as the many songs they must learn. Admission is free, though limited, and donations are encouraged. The donations are then delivered to an orphanage in Nassau. There is also a golf cart parade that runs through town. Since most people on the island drive golf carts instead of cars, they decorate them with ribbons, lights, shells, and whatever else they can think of. Similar to the golf cart parade, a parade of boats navigates the waters around the islands and displays their lights and decorations for all to see.
The new year, however, is another story. Every island in Abaco has its own version of a fireworks display, but Elbow Cay has two! A few nights before New Year’s Eve, a local company puts on a spectacular fireworks display on the water, located between two islands. The best place to see the show is on the southernmost beach of the island. At low tide, you can even sit on the sandy islands that form in the shallows. On New Year’s Eve all the local bars are open and have dinners and special events. This is the only night of the year that a cover charge applies. This is the place to be until midnight, because once the clock strikes twelve, everyone floods the street to watch the second fireworks display. The fireworks can be seen from anywhere in the city, although the favorite place to watch them is from the deck of any ship in the harbor. Once the screen is complete, Junkanoo begins. Junkanoo, similar to Carnival, is a cultural event in the Bahamas consisting of many native costumed dancers parading down the street while dancing to the beat of the drums and whistles of the band. Everyone joins in and dances through the streets as they follow the parade through the city.
After years of traditional holidays back home, spending Christmas in the Bahamas is something everyone should experience. Celebrating the season in the Caribbean islands is priceless.
