History
The Goombay Festival of Coconut Grove began in the 1970s at the initiative of Coconut Grove resident, Mr. Herb Hiller. To make it happen he worked with John Major, the owner of Big Al’s 1, who helped form the first Goombay Planning Committee. Members included Frederica Simmons Brown, Bernice Hunt and Geraldine Williams 2. The businesses along Grand Avenue were an important part of the festival, with the bars like the Tiki Club, Three Chips, Gil’s Bar and Last Chance serving as spaces where people could gather and socialize 3.
Locals were joined by vendors from the Bahamas who sold Bahamian crafts and served up culinary delicacies like pigeon peas and rice, guava duff and conch fritters. With the support of the Government of the Bahamas, the performances of the Royal Bahamas Police Force band became a cherished element of the festival. Junkanoo bands and other Bahamian singers and musicians accompanied them, providing a uniquely Bahamian soundscape to neighborhood. Adding to the joyful noise were members of the King Mango Marching Band 4.
The Goombay Queening and Goombay King riding down Grand Avenue opening the Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2024. Photo by Jason Smith.
In the ensuing years, the festival continued to grow. In addition to the celebration along Grand Avenue, other events became a part of the Goombay’s annual traditions. Among them was the Pioneers’ Tea. This invitation only event was created to honor the elder members of the community, who were unable to participate in Goombay’s main festivities. Starting in 1988, in the days leading up to the festival, the Coconut Grove Sailing Club organized a Miami/Bahamas Goombay Sailing Regatta, a tradition that continued for years. The festival also became a time for reunions 5. People who moved away from Coconut Grove returned to reconnect with friends and family in their old neighborhood. Goombay also brought many special visitors from the Bahamas such as preachers invited to give sermons at Coconut Grove’s Churches; historians who delivered talks and specialists in Bush medicine 6.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force Band marches during the 2005 Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove. This photo, provided by HistoryMiami Museum, is a part of their Dade Department of Tourism slide collection
At the peak of its popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, Goombay is estimated to have drawn half a million festival goers. However, it faced its share of challenges. In 1980, riots broke out across the City of Miami in response to the acquittal of police officers who were tried for their role in the death of Arthur McDuffie. While spared from the worst of the destruction that engulfed neighborhoods like Liberty City and Overtown, some businesses in Coconut Grove were damaged 7. The political climate in the city at the time led to the organizers cancelling the festival. However, it returned the following year.
In 2005, extensive construction along Grand Avenue led to the festival moving west to Bayshore Drive 8. The costs associated with this move forced the Goombay Committee to charge a $5 entrance fee for the first time in the history of the festival. The following year, Goombay returned to its traditional location, but its popularity began to wane. Plagued by problems such as the loss of sponsors and a drop in festival attendees, 2014 became the last year Goombay took place on Grand Avenue. The big street celebration was replaced by smaller gatherings that continued traditions like the Pioneers Luncheon. However, with support from the City of Miami, the Office of Congresswoman Fredricka Wilson and Miami Dade County, Goombay returned to Coconut Grove in 2022.
A booklet about Bahamian Folk Medicine that was commissioned by the Florida Endowment of the Humanities and the Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival in 1989. Photo by Dr. Valerie Patterson
Stilt walkers at Elizabeth Virrick Park during Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2022. Photo by Mikeya Brown.
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (in gold hat) speaking at Elizabeth Virrick Park during Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2022. Photo by Mikeya Brown.
The 2022 festival was held at Elizabeth Virrick Park. The excellent turnout and enthusiasm for the event was enough to convince the city that Goombay belonged back on Grand Avenue, to which it made its triumphant return in 2023.
Much has changed since the festival began in the 1970s. Many of the apartment buildings from Bahamian flags were hung to announce the coming of the festival have been torn down. The few that survive are vacant and boarded up. Where buildings once stood, there are now empty lots that are slowly being transformed into new apartments that will likely bring an influx of newcomers with little connection with the area’s history. The dozens of businesses that lined Grand Avenue have largely disappeared, a result of urban renewal, road widening projects and the decline in the neighborhood’s historically Black population. However, the festival and its ties to the Bahamas endures, as does the pride of those who trace their roots to Grove.
Junkanoo performers during Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2023. Photo by Aarti Mehta-Kroll.
Team members of Linda’s Authentic Crafts, vendors from the Bahamas, at the Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2024. Photo by Jason Smith.
Festivalgoers relaxing in front of the Sports Hall of Fame Museum during the Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove, Florida. 2024. Photo by Yaasmeen R. Johnson.
1 Drummond Ayers Jr., B. (1977). Hundreds of Bahamian-Americans in the Miami Area Celebrate Their Cultural Heritage With ‘Roots Salute’ The New York Times, June 6, https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/06/06/75082737.html?pageNumber=18
2 Lee Sr., Tarian. (2024) The History of the Goombay Festival in Coconut Grove Miami from 94-year-old historian, March 21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sVI8IX1iDQ
3 Cooper, C. and R. Martin. (2022). “Commons for Justice Project.” Interview by M. Brown, A. Ramos, Y. Norther & J. McGee. 31 May [WWW document]. URL http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI24022202/00001 Accessed January 17, 2023.
4 Hernandez, Evelyn. (1986). Strut King’s new life has room for offbeat. The Miami Herald, December 26, Pg. 1B.
5 Coto, Juan Carlos. (1988). Goombay Festivities Salute Grove Roots. The Miami Herlad. June 3.
6 Staff Writer (1977). Bahamas Goombay Festival Planned for Coconut Grove. The Miami Times, 26 May. Pg. 13.
7 Willson, Elizabeth. (1980) Riot-torn clothier in Grove decides not to hang it up. The Miami Herald, September 18.
8 Special to the Miami Times. (2005) Goombay Festival Takes a Turn. The Miami Times, 8 June https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028321/00021/zoom/1