Goombay Summer Festival is back with five Thursday's of rich cultural excitement and expressions of Bahamian heritage which began July 3, 2014. Drawing light on the rich history of the music and dance of the Goombay goatskin drum, this year marks the festival's 40 anniversary.

Originally launched in 1974, Goombay Summer celebration became a huge attraction for visitors.  Over the years, Goombay Summer was sometimes called Junkanoo in June and Junkanoo Summer Festival, but more recently, it has returned to its original name. It is a celebration of authentic Bahamian music, dance, cuisine and craft.

Goombay Summer Festival will be held at Taino Beach Thursday nights through July 31, 2014, from 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM. The event will feature the best in Bahamian entertainment, including the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, Ira Storr and the Spank Band, Stileet, Veronica Bishop, Dyson Knight, Wilfred Solomon, Geno D, Puzzle, KB and many more.

Goombay is uniquely packaged into the indigenous flavors of Grand Bahama Island where residents and visitors can enjoy conch demonstrations, coconut demonstrations, nature walks, bush tea tasting and the Ministry of Tourism signature People-to-People experience.

Betty Bethel, director, Ministry of Tourism, Grand Bahama Island said, "The festival is designed to heighten the visitor experience which creates an atmosphere for participants to feel the rhythm, culture and character of Goombay."

Goombay Summer remains a signature cultural event for the Ministry of Tourism and in this tone of festivity, the Ministry continues to celebrate its Golden Jubilee; 50 years of promoting tourism to the world, focusing on 2014 as the year of culture.

Adding to the festivities, the temperature heats up in Nassau with Junkanoo Summer Festival.  Another of the Bahamas' most anticipated cultural festival will take place on Bay Street, in Nassau every Friday and Saturday in July.  Downtown Nassau will come alive with the sound of goatskin drums, horns and cowbells as entertainers from every major Junkanoo Group showcases their talents.

The major Junkanoo groups will march from their headquarters in a fun-filled rhythmic formation to Bay Street for this cultural competition. Each week will feature a different aspect of the art form, as the groups compete for the top trophy in music, dance and costumes. Also civic organizations, government agencies, youth bands, and local business will compete for best banner and best float.

This year the public can also get in on the action. On July 25, there will be 'The People's Rush-It's Everybody's Business Scrap Rushout' where the spectators can join-in and dance. The finale will present the best of the best Bahamian talented recording artists as they perform during the awards presentations.

"The Ministry of Tourism together with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, National Junkanoo Committee (NJC) and the Junkanoo Corporation New Providence Ltd. (JCNP) designed the event to celebrate our culture and our people as part of the 50 ^th anniversary of tourism in The Bahamas", said Charity Armbrister, director of Events-Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Some of the Family Islands will also participate in Junkanoo Summer Festival that includes Abaco, Andros, Bimini Exuma, Long Island and San Salvador.