The event is in its infancy. Bahamians are very skeptical people, and I was sure hardly anyone would show up for the festival. But they proved me wrong. I expect that next year, after surprising everyone involved with how great it turned out, it will be even bigger and better. Costume sales might have not been what they expected, but next year now that word has gotten out, I expect even that to pick up. Its only just started, and now they know exactly what work needs to go where to truly make the event an all around success for all parties involved from the vendors, to the costume makers, the marketers, etc. For a first year, basically trial event, it was a successful one, considering many thought it would flop and no one would show up.

I knew this was a very partisan site, with a very partisan audience, but man... Give credit where credit is due. Fact is, many, many people wanted this event to be a huge failure, to flop, just so that they could pin it against the government for yet "another one of their failures". However, now all of those people are left eating crow, because Freeport citizens and the tourists on the island turned out in droves, whether to spectate or have a good time, they turned out. While it may not be in fact 30k persons who turned up, you cannot deny that it was a very large audience, that got even larger by the end of Saturday evening. And all reports are that they had a great time. I'm glad that there is atleast one poster who said he was there and that he had a great time, and from what he witnessed so did the thousands who attended.

Politics aside, I am just grateful that it provided an economic stimulus for the island of Grand Bahama and specifically for the city of Freeport. At the end of the day, wasn't that the whole point of this idea?

We'll just have to wait and see just exactly how much of an economic impact it really had. But just going off of the "sight test", it looked to be success by the turnout of the people, and the reports that all hotel rooms were booked and cars rented. Now, whether that actually happened is another thing.

@Millenial242, I too seldom comment on anything on this site, because it a very partisan paper, but I was waiting on this story simply because it was a success of the government and I was waiting to see the negative posts. I'm glad you attended and had a blast, I watched it on tv and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I could only hope and pray the Nassau event goes off without incident like the event in Freeport, and that the people "show up".

I'm not here to get into an argument with anyone, like I said before, I'm just thrilled the event was well attended and provided an economic stimulus to the island, considering many wanted it to flop, just to hold it against the government.

Glad someone who was there is saying this. It looked "HUGE" from watching it on TV, and I actually couldn't believe Freeport residents turned out like that. I was very impressed.

As an educational institution, COB compares fairly well with similarly sized institutions.

Was wondering when the "***they lyin'...the crowd wasn't that big***" posts would come.

@Tal, I'm just glad it didn't flop and was hugely successful, as evident by the huge crowds on both nights. I'm glad all the hotel rooms were occupied, all the cars were rented, vendors were able to sell their foods and make some money. All in all, I'm glad for the economic boost it provided for the island and its citizens who are Bahamians. Whether or not the natives warm up to the idea of Junkanoo Carnival, is one thing, which, if going by the turnout in Grand Bahama, suggests that they are.

lololol