GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — The annual Junior Junkanoo Parade, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture, took place on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Downtown, Freeport on Explorer’s Way.
Eighteen schools, ranging from preschool to senior high, participated in the parade.
The young performers showcased their talent and pride through vibrant themed costumes that depicted a variety of stories, including “Noah’s Ark,” “Candy Land,” “The Circus” and more.
These themes were brought to life with high-energy performances that captured the true spirit of Junkanoo. The lively rhythm of goat-skin drums, cowbells, horns and whistles captivated the spectators, who danced alongside the streets in excitement.
Junkanoo remains a powerful expression of Bahamian national identity, and the Junior Junkanoo Programme is used as a feeder system for the senior groups to ensure this rich cultural heritage lives on in future generations.
Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, announced the government’s new initiative of integrating Junkanoo into the curriculum across all schools in The Bahamas during the “Jump Into Junkanoo” cross-curriculum integration launch ceremony on January 9, 2025.
Since the launch of Junkanoo into the school curriculum, the government aims to ensure that the tradition continues to thrive within schools, affording the students a deeper understanding of their cultural roots and encouraging greater participation in Junior Junkanoo parades in the future.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
The unofficial results were unveiled shortly after the 2025 Junior Junkanoo Parade celebration on Explorer’s Way in Downtown Freeport on March 15, 2025.
This year’s parade featured five divisions – Preschool, Primary School, All-Age, Junior High, and Senior High.
In the Preschool Division, Growing Years Preschool placed first, Letty’s Paradise Preschool second and Kindercare Learning Center third.
In the Primary Division, Bartlett Hill Primary placed first, Lewis Yard Primary second and Hugh W. Campbell Primary third.
In the Junior High Division, Sister Mary Patricia Russell Jr. High placed first and Jack Hayward Junior High School was second.
In the Secondary Division, Eight Mile Rock placed first, Jack Hayward Senior second and St. George’s High third.
And the overall winner in the All-Age Division was Summit Heights Preparatory, followed by The Beacon School in second place and Sunland Baptist Academy in third place.
(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)
