Good Time to Visit

Weather

The climate in the Bahamas is subtropical, with average temperatures of 21°C in winter and 27°C in summer. It is slightly cooler than other Caribbean island groups due to the proximity of North American cold-air systems. The rainy season falls between May to October, with a total annual rainfall of 75-150 cm. Hurricanes are frequent from June to November.

Visitors are advised to bring tropical or lightweight cottons all year round, with light rainwear during the wet season.

More detailed information about the Bahamian weather can be found in Climate in the Bahamas.

Festivals

Nassau hosts a Junkanoo celebration each year - a city-wide carnival on Boxing Day and repeated on New Year's Day. The parades start at 2 am in the morning and run until about 10 am or noon. The celebration dates back to the days of slavery when slave owners gave their slaves these holidays off. The parades include Carnival costumes and people drumming on everything from goat skin drums to cowbells. The costumes are so elaborate that when one parade is over, participants start working on those for the following year.

A Pineapple Festival, featuring eating contests, music and games takes place over three days in early June, whilst the Cat Island rake scrape Music Festival is held in late June in New Bight. The Goombay Summer Festival runs June to August, in Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay in the Abacos, with concerts, food and dancing. The Plymouth Historical Weekend is held in December to celebrate the settlement's Loyalist heritage. Regattas are held throughout the year.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in the Bahamas: