Goombay to Showcase Key West’s Bahamian Connection, Culture and Cuisine

KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Visitors can experience sights, sounds and flavors recalling Key West’s Bahamian heritage at the family-friendly Goombay Festival scheduled Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21. 

The exuberant street festival takes place in the island city’s Bahama Village neighborhood, settled in the early 1800s in part by Bahamians seeking a new home.

For more than 30 years, the Goombay Festival has marked the start of Key West’s Fantasy Fest, a 10-day masking and costuming celebration whose 2017 revelry continues through Sunday, Oct. 29.

Goombay’s high-energy action is centered on Petronia Street, just off Key West’s famed Duval Street in the heart of Bahama Village. Events are to take place from noon to midnight both days. 

Festival attendees can savor the flavors of Caribbean and ethnic dishes offered by vendors, discover island-influenced arts and crafts, and dance in the streets to live music by popular Bahamian, South Florida and Florida Keys musicians and bands. 

The main entertainment stage is to be located at the corner of Petronia and Fort streets, with entertainers offering nonstop tunes in genres ranging from gospel to reggae.

Other festival standouts typically include appearances by Junkanoo performers and a Junkanoo Rush of costumed marchers and dancers.

Event information: facebook.com/keywestgoombay2017/

Key West visitor information: fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY

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