Tonight Independence Day Celebrations begin at 7:30pm in Clifford Park before ending at midnight with a fireworks display, as the country's celebrates its 40th year as an independent country.

The theme for the 40th Anniversary Celebrations - which started at the beginning of the year - is "The Bridge to the Future... The Journey Continues," and tonight's festivities will feature a church service, cultural "extravaganza," uniformed branches inspection, and flag-raising ceremony.

The night kicks off at 7:30pm with a musical selection from the National Youth Orchestra and the Combined Ecumenical Choir.

An Independence Ecumenical Service will start, shortly thereafter and members of the Bahamas Christian Council will lead the service - including Bishop Victor Cooper Bishop Ross Davis, Bishop Albert Hepburn, Rev Dr Gloria Ferguson, Archdeacon James Palacious, Bishop Neil Ellis, Rev Dr Ranford Patterson, Rev Laish Boyd, Rev Anthony Carroll, Bishop Elgarnet Rahming, Bishop John Humes, Rev Patrick Pinder, and Rev Bill Higgs.

By 8:45pm, the "Independence Cultural Extravaganza" will begin with a performance from the Urban Renewal Marching Band, Church of God of Prophecy marching Band, and the All Star Marching Band.

A cultural show will follow at 9:30 - which will include traditional folk dances, musical performances, and a dramatisation, before ending in a junkanoo finale.

Scheduled to begin at 10:30 is a uniformed branches inspection motorcycle display, defence force drill, and canine unit display.

Following a musical display by the uniformed branches and a rifle salute, the raising of the flag will take place and the cutting of the independence cake.

The night will end with a cannon salute and fireworks display.