The 2025 Eleuthera Senior Junkanoo Parade and Festival, hosted this year along the expansive main Queen’s Highway road, near the homecoming site in Hatchet Bay, Central Eleuthera, was not what crowds were expecting. Spectators, including scores of visitors amongst the local residents, turned out in good numbers, however, the customary A division groups (from Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Hatchet Bay and North Eleuthera/Gregory Town), which had already fallen to just two participating in 2024 (Rock Sound and Hatchet Bay), did not show up.
Host group, the Hatchet Bay ‘Village Boys’, was the one and only A division group to perform in the mainland Eleuthera Junkanoo parade, along with two fun groups from Tarpum Bay – ‘The Invaders’ on drums, and ‘Grandma’s Goodies’ with a ‘Wizard of Oz’ costumed characters theme.
The Hatchet Bay Village Boys, despite the lack of competition, put on a splendid show, inspired by ‘Ancient Egypt’ – complete with lead piece, off-the-shoulder creations, vibrant free dancers, a glittering gold choreagraphed dance line, and rhythmic goat skin drum, cow bells, whistles and brass section music performance. A fire-dance performance was also part of the evening’s lineup.
Kishlane Smith, with the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), commenting on the Eleuthera Senior Junkanoo Parade, held on Saturday evening, December 27th, 2025, following the Christmas Day holiday, said, “I’m happy to have seen such authenticity exhibited by the ‘Village Boys’ of Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera. I think they have shown the country and the world that they are as equally excited and join all Junkanooers throughout – exhibiting the art, the craft, and the sportsmanship of Junkanoo.
“I particularly liked the family environment of Eleuthera where families were able to enjoy the festivities of it being not only a Junkanoo parade, but a festival. And we echo the sentiments as previously expressed by Minister Mario Bowleg, who is responsible for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture – Junkanoo is vitally important to the cultural aspect of our country and we applaud all Junkanooers countrywide for their efforts.”
She continued, “On behalf of my chair of the National Junkanoo Committee, Warren Andrew Pinder, and my deputy co-chair, Dr. Dwight. Marshall, we are extremely appreciative to the Junkanooers that are on our family islands, who have toiled over the months to ensure that there would be a parade. We are appreciative to the families who have offered their relatives to be in the shacks and to prepare for the parades. We are appreciative to the title sponsors, that we know are within the communities of… Eleuthera. We’re looking forward to your advanced participation and assistance to all Junkanooers in a more tangible fashion. We look forward to another successful Junkanoo season… and more participation on the island of Eleuthera.”
