Junkanoo begins in the dark, usually around 2 o'clock in the morning, and the streets fill with people of all ages hours before it starts. When the first group rounds the corner in full costume and the drums begin, the excitement is electric. The parade moves fast — participants rush rather than stroll — which is why 'rushing' is another word Bahamians use for joining the Junkanoo.
The costumes are extraordinary. Each group chooses a theme — perhaps a scene from Bahamian history, a story from nature, or an imaginary world — and builds elaborate headdresses and body pieces from cardboard, crepe paper, glitter, beads, and feathers. The largest costumes can be taller than a house and must be carried or worn while dancing and playing music at the same time.
Building the costumes is a team effort that takes months. Groups meet in secret warehouses called 'shacks' — and the location and theme are often kept hidden from rival groups until parade night. The secrecy adds to the excitement, and when a spectacular float or costume is revealed for the first time, the crowd roars with surprise and admiration.
Judges score each group on their music, their costumes, and the energy of their performance. Winning the Junkanoo competition is one of the greatest honours in Bahamian life. After the parade, the streets stay lively with music and food until sunrise, when families head home to sleep and dream about the next year's design.