The annual Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove, which celebrates the area’s Bahamian roots, is often billed as “the largest black heritage festival in the country.”
That could explain why a young blond-haired man, with a voice eerily similar to rap star Eminem’s, had little success peddling Nescafé iced-coffee drinks to the crowd of thousands as they strolled along Grand Avenue on Saturday afternoon.
Most festivalgoers ignored him and others like him, which was probably easy since the music was so loud. Instead, they headed straight for the more traditional Bahamian fare: conch fritters, crab rice, meat kebabs and tropical fruit smoothies.
IN FULL REGALIA: Ronnie Cash, left, Rychelle Cash, 5, and Percy ‘Vola’ Francis make their way down Grand Avenue Saturday in the Bahamas Junkanoo section of the Goombay Festival..
“Even though the Bahamian population here is getting smaller and smaller, the festival continues to grow,” said Tyrell Farrell, 35, who grew up near Coconut Grove.
He lives in New York City but came down for the festival.
“There’s nothing else like this — not even in New York.”
In fact, Florida leads the nation in Bahamians, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with a population of about 17,000. The state’s Caribbean population is nearly half a million.
Some 200,000 people — from all ethnic groups — attended the festival Saturday, according to police. It continues today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The huge party extends along Grand Avenue from Douglas Road to McFarlane Avenue, with a tent, stage or booth booming with hip-hop, Caribbean or rap music every couple of yards. And every few minutes, the junkanoo dancers in their fluorescent-colored costumes stepped through the crowd with their fast-paced music, enticing nearly everyone within earshot to dance along.
But the festival is more to the community than a chance to bring people together and celebrate its history. It’s an opportunity to make money.
The area’s Tucker Elementary School charges $5 for parking. Local families with their own self-proclaimed “Bahama-mamas” sell home-style grub.
At some booths, conch fritters go for $4 and crab and rice dinners go for $8.
Others sell arts and crafts.
“It gets more commercial every year,” said Kristina Cooper, 22, of Miami. “But once you get through that trash, you find the delicious Caribbean food and drinks, which is what this party’s all about, baby!” she shouted over the music.
By Sofia Santana, The Miami Herald
