The festival continues to celebrate the ancestral ties between the residents of Key West and Green Turtle Cay throughout the weekend by presenting examples of authenic history and heritage that span two countries and many generations!

The 6th Annual Festival was an important one that focused on the traditions and heritage of the Bahamian people.  Through lively entertainment, delicious food and fun filled activities the committee was able to successfully share the Bahamian experience with all those attending from near and far.  It was a tremendous weekend, enjoyed by over 2500 people daily!

We were once again joined by the Pirates of the Coast who were now portraying historical characters as whalers, wreckers and loyalists.  They helped us with traditional game playing for the children along with  scavenger and treasure  hunts.  Other fun events were the Conch Horn Blowing Lessons and Contest, The Conch Cracking Contest, The School Performances, Junkanoo Rush, Rake and Scrape Bahamian music by the Lassido Boys, Abaco dinghy displays and demonstrations, tours of Vertrum's Ship Shop, The Maypole Dance, A Gospel Hour by local gospel entertainers and the first ever police escorted Little Miss Amy Roberts Golfcart Parade, along with the first performance of The Royal Bahamas Defense Force Marching Band on Green Turtle Cay.  The Bahamas Post Office had a small booth that sold first day issue of  Commemorative Stamps featuring our beloved Potcakes and one of the Potcakes featured on the 4 stamps illustrated by Alton Lowe was, Oreo, a three legged rescue who came to the festival to be admired by all!  Our Arts and Crafts booths offered a beautiful display of driftwood frames, wooden boat models, straw work bags, hats and matts, beach glass and shell jewelry, conch shell carvings, photography and paintings.

Events were once again developed to be enjoyed throughout the village.  At the Administrator's Office, Informative Talks were held inside with standing room only sized crowds to hear Sandra Riley speak on The Early History of the Bahamas, Darius Williams spoke on Green Turtle Cay, A Liberated African Settlement, Nancy Albury and Brian Kakuk presenting on The Caves, Caverns and Blue Holes of Abaco,  Joy Lowe Jossi excited people to research their family tree by presenting: A Green Turtle Family, Kendal Butler spoke on The Economic Impact of Abaco Boat Builders.    Alton Lowe's Art Gallery presented Sandra Riley's 'Miss Ruby' Theatrical production and at The Albert Lowe Museum there was a Green Turtle Style Antiques Road Show with Alton Lowe and Bob Carr identifying treasures brought in by the curious.  There was also 'A Walk for Hope' to help raise awareness and funds for The Abaco Cancer Society on Saturday morning.  For the first time the committee was able to secure a well lit, air-conditioned space as meeting space to research Family Tree History.  36 Nassau Geneologists joined Joy Lowe Jossi and Laurie Baker to help festival goers research their family roots.  Richard 'O Blue' Jones gave a talk on Bahamian Bush Medicine at the Bush Medicine Garden at the Captain Roland Roberts House and Environmental Center.  It was an exciting weekend with so much to enjoy and learn!

Our evening entertainers were Fire and the Goat Peppers, The Lassido Boys Rake and Scrape Band, The Royal Bahamas Defense Force Dance Band, Terez Hepburn and Kirkland 'KB' Bodie!

The committee asked the help of all Abaco Secondary School students to design a special logo for this year's theme.  Giovanni Coakley, a 10th Grade student of Forest Heights Academy was chosen as our winner and designer of this year's most popular Turtle Logo.  As a winner of this contest, Mr. Coakley was given a laptop computer purchased by the Island Roots Heritage Festival Committee. His design was featured on the cover of this year's Commemorative Booklet, all 2009 tshirts and newspaper advertisements.  Congratulations to the talented Giovanni Coakley!

We trust that everyone had a very special time at this year's festival!!  Especially when we closed on Sunday with another special gathering of Thanks and Praise before saying goodbye to all our guests! We  hope that you are already planning your next stay on Green Turtle Cay to include our 7th Annual Festival to be held 30 April to 2 May 2010!

Photos of this festival can be enjoyed by clicking on the Main Menu, then click on Photos the click on Conch Breaking '09, Maypole '09, School Kids '09, Prime Minister '09 and Kids Games '09.  Enjoy!  Fun was had by all!

Here you can also view the entire Commemorative Booklet.  There are a lot of interesting articles in this booklet on the History of the Bahamas and Abaco, Talking Bahamian and Bahamian National Symbols.