The Pineapple Festival in the Bahamas and Florida

In June the Gregory Town in Eleuthera comes to life. Eleuthera is one of the Islands in the Bahamas, and in the month of June the people of Gregory Town hold the annual Pineapple Festival. The festival is held in the first week of June, it is a four day celebration.

The festival began in 1988, it was started by the local Tourist Office in Gregory Town. A year later in 1989 it was found out that a Pineapple Festival was also held at Jensen Beach, Florida. This is when the two places officially became sister cities.

The pineapple is the symbol of hospitality to the Bahamians. The pineapples symbolism's roots started in a tradition started by Northern seafaring captains. When the captains had arrived home they would place a pineapple on their gateposts to show to everyone they knew that they were home. The pineapple industry was at a very high rate with exports of over 50,000 pineapples per year. However this was devastated when Hurricane Andrew hit the Island in 1992. To the people of the Caribbean the pineapple is the perfect pizza topping. There is a large replica of a pineapple situated in Gregory town. The pineapples from Eleuthera started the pineapple industry in Jensen beach, Florida.

The pineapple festival attracts over 5000 people every year. For many it is chance to return home for a weekend and have a family reunion.

The festival consists of many different activities. There is a pineapple eating contest, a pineapple-cooking contest, fire dancing, and pineapple sports. There is also a little miss and teen pineapple pageant. There are also tours of pineapple farms and a triathlon. There is a traditional junkanoo parade and craft displays t be seen. Plus many more activities that provide fun for all the family. The purpose of the festival is to pay tribute to the pineapple industry, to honor the farmers and bring Bahamians together as one.

In Jensen Beach, Florida the festival is held in the historic streets of downtown Jensen Beach. Here they have a Bahamian marketplace where you can here the sounds of the heart pounding junkanoo. The Bahamas Ministry of tourism sponsors the market place. Also at this festival people can taste traditional Bahamian food. Here the festival last for three days. And over the course of the three days comedian Jon Smith and friends delight the crowds at the Pineapplaugh Improv Show.

Whether you are in Jensen Beach, Florida or Gregory Town, Eleuthera the sprit of the Pineapple festival brightens up people's days. It is a fun filled week for everyone to enjoy.

Source www.bahamas.com

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