Upcoming Freetown Fire Hearth Food & Heritage Festival

As one of the most historic settlements on Grand Bahama Island, the residents and descendants of Freetown look forward to celebrating the story of their freedom with the Freetown Fire Hearth Food & Heritage Festival.

Currently in its fifth year of existence, the Ole Freetown Heritage Festival Committee, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (MOTA), held a brief press conference to officially announce the return of the annual event.

Held in Ole Freetown on Missile Base Beach (where Pirates of the Carribean was filmed) on Whit Monday, May 21st, at 11 am, residents and visitors can look forward to participating in traditional Bahamian games and fun activities, experiencing live entertainment, tasting local dishes, and witnessing the famous "Fire Half Cooking Competition" as well as the newly added "Flipping of the Bread” Contest.

As contestants are required to exercise a high level of dexterity in the manual control of the fire to successfully prepare their meal, the Fire Half Competition proves to be one of the most exciting activities of the day.

With live entertainment by various artists including the Grand Bahama District of the Police Pop Band, Stileet, and a Junkanoo rush out by Platinum Knights, Vivian McIntosh, Vice President, Ole Freetown Heritage Festival Committee, is urging the entire Grand Bahama community to support this heritage event.

"We look forward to seeing you because the excitement is in the air. This is our fifth year and I've been a part of it since the inception, so once persons get there they will see how the site is so alive with all we have to offer," said McIntosh.

Elaine Smith, Coordinator, Groups and Events, MOTA, said, "Just two years ago, the decision was made to relocate the event and since then visitors and residents have consistently been offered a more scenic and environmentally diverse site where they can also enjoy a fun day at the beach."

She added that "Through highlighting the value of our history and providing free transportation for guests to and from the various hotels, we hope to facilitate enough traffic where visitors on Grand Bahama Island can return to their hometowns knowing and feeling like they’ve experienced the true essence of Bahamian culture."

The 5th Annual Freetown Food & Heritage Festival would not be possible without the aid and support of the Ole Freetown Heritage Festival Committee, Chances, Statoil, G.B. Port Authority, Syngaurd, the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest.