| Every year, millions of people decide to spend | | | | boats cruise the waters around the islands, and show |
| Christmas and New Years in another state, country, | | | | off their lights and decorations for everyone to see. |
| or continent. For those wishing to escape to the | | | | New years, however, is another story. All the islands |
| sunny south, but still be relatively close to home, | | | | in Abaco have their own version of a fireworks |
| spending the holidays in the Bahamas is a great | | | | display, but Elbow Cay has two! A few nights before |
| alternative. Out of the seven hundred islands that | | | | New Years Eve, a local company puts on a |
| make up the Bahamas, Elbow Cay, a small island in | | | | spectacular fireworks display on the water, nestled |
| the Abacos, is a wonderful place to celebrate the | | | | between two islands. The best place to view the |
| season with friends and family. | | | | show is on the most Southern beach on the island. |
| Christmas and New Years are one of a kind on | | | | At low tide you can even sit on the islands of sand |
| Elbow Cay. The first thing everyone notices during | | | | that form in the shallow waters. On New Years Eve, |
| the holidays is the Hope Town Lighthouse, located in | | | | all the local bars are open, and have special dinners |
| the North-central part of the island. The lighthouse | | | | and events. This is the only night of the year that a |
| has thousands of lights strung from its observation | | | | cover charge is in effect. This is the place to be until |
| deck to its base. Every night, the lighthouse is lit up, | | | | midnight, because once the clock strikes twelve, |
| while its lights sparkle in the night. Many houses and | | | | everyone floods the street to watch the second |
| restaurants also prepare for the holidays with lights | | | | fireworks display. The fireworks can be seen from |
| and decorations - even though it looks a bit strange | | | | anywhere in town, although a favorite place to view |
| without any winter white snow. | | | | them is from the deck of any boat in the Harbour. |
| The holiday season also brings many events such as | | | | Once the display is complete, Junkanoo begins. |
| the annual Christmas musical at the local church. The | | | | Junkanoo, similar to Carnival, is a cultural event in the |
| local children rehearse for months on the play, as well | | | | Bahamas that consist of many native costumed |
| as the many songs they must learn. Tickets are free, | | | | dancers parading down the street while dancing to |
| although they are limited, and donations are | | | | the drums and whistles of the band. Everyone joins in |
| encouraged. Donations are then given to an | | | | and dances through the streets while following the |
| orphanage in Nassau. There is also a golf cart parade | | | | parade through town. |
| that tours the town. Since most people on the island | | | | After years of traditional holidays at home, spending |
| drive golf carts instead of cars, they decorate them | | | | Christmas in the Bahamas is something that everyone |
| with ribbons, lights, shells, and anything else they can | | | | should experience. Celebrating the season on the |
| think of. Similar to the golf cart parade, a parade of | | | | islands of the Caribbean is priceless. |