The Goombay Festival is held each year in Miami and has evolved over the years to become the biggest black heritage festival in the USA. As of today it is rivaling the Carnival in the same city. Started in 1977, the Goombay Festival celebrates the Bahamian roots of the Coconut Grove Grand Avenue. It is this road that will be turned into one of the USA's biggest street festivals.

It is one of the most cheerful events each year and you will see some of the most colorful parades, music and of course a lot of dancing. The so-called junkanoo parades feature dancers in costumes that move to the loud sounds of hundreds of whistles, cow bells and others. The Royal Bahamian Police Marching Band is a special attraction and plays drills in their white uniforms. There is also a lot of modern music including rap to be heard at the Goombay Festival Miami 2007.

If you ever wondered what the word Goombay actually means, this is actually not too difficult. It is the name used for a typically Bahamian goatskin drum, that is of course used extensively during the festival to create the Bahamian music, a mixture of African but also European influences. As said before, each year, one of the biggest attractions is the Royal Bahamas Police Band. With 55 members in their white uniforms, they are impatiently awaited by the spectators.

Dancers are everywhere in the streets and many small shops are selling food, crafts and art. You will find a lot of great souvenirs to bring back home! The Goombay Festival Miami 2007 will be held from the 24th to the 26th of August and there are no costs involved to attend.

See some available Miami Hotels that you can make a reservation for:

Continental Oceanfront South Beach Hotel Miami (2 stars)
San Juan Hotel Miami (2 stars)
Aqua Hotel Miami (3 stars)
Greenview South Beach Hotel Miami (3 stars)
Thunderbird Beach Resort Miami (3 stars)
Waldorf Towers Hotel Miami (3 stars)
Fontainebleau Resort Miami (4 stars)
Marriott Villas at Doral (4 stars)