Eleuthera, Bahamas (By BIS): The 28th Annual Pineapple Festival gets underway Wednesday June 3 to Friday, June 5 in Gregory Town, Eleuthera, with the usual fun, frolic, and festivities celebrating the ‘sweetest pineapples in the world.’ Sponsoring the pineapple jubilee will be Kalik, Island Luck, Sands Beer, and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The theme this year is ‘Bring Back Da Ole Days.’
On Saturday, sporting types can enjoy 5K Fun Run /Walk Road Race, Pineappleman Sprint Triathlon, Aquathon, and World-Beater Road Race!
Special events will be: Pineapple Peeling Contest, Pineapple Eating Contest, Pineapple Cooking Contest, Plaiting of the Pineapple Pole, Central Eleuthera High School Band, Pineapple Festival Triathlon, Face Painting, D-Mac, Stileet, Island Flavour, the Rum Runners, Bennett and the Boys, Steel Band (Island Boys), Blue Waters Live Band, Cultural Dancing, Stories/Folklore, Box Cart Race Competition.
The festival brings people of all walks of life together to keep alive a historical cornerstone, and to have fun enjoying the many events and the lovely island of Eleuthera.
The Ministry of Tourism first introduced the Pineapple Festival as acknowledgment of the contributions of the many pineapple farmers of Eleuthera in building of their communities. Until devastation of the industry by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Gregory Town farmers exported some 50,000 of the popular fruit each year.
Today a man-made replica of the pineapple is situated in the township square of Gregory Town to recognize its importance to the settlement, the island of Eleuthera, and The Bahamas as a whole. Eleutheran’s take pride in this, their symbol of hospitality.
