Emancipation Day

Emancipation day is a public holiday on Grand Bahama that celebrates the 1834 emancipation of all slaves on the island and is sometimes referred to as August Monday. Taking place on the first Monday in August, the day starts off with an early morning "Junkanoo Rushout"a dance taking two steps forward, one step back accompanied by drums, whistles and bells. The rush-outs head down one of the many beaches such as Xanadu Beach. There follows an afternoon of music and "cook-outs" (sale of Bahamian food) and other cultural events, including "climbing the greasy pole".