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Bring a surge protector (2,000 joules or higher) to protect your electronics while charging laptops, phones, and other electronic devices.
This is a must-have if boating around the Abacos. It's the only regularly updated guide by locals with over 50 years of experience.
Public holidays in the Bahamas
January 1st - New Year's Day
The first day of the Gregorian calendar is celebrated with a Junkanoo parade on Green Turtle Cay.
January 10th - Majority Rule Day
Commemorates the day the Bahamian government gained majority rule for the first time, on this day in 1967. It is usually listed with the emancipation of slavery in 1836 and independence from the United Kingdom in 1973 as the most important events in the history of the Bahamas.
Friday before Easter Sunday - Good Friday
Marks the end of the Lenten season and the beginning of a 4-day holiday weekend. Most Bahamians attend church services and serve fish as the main meal for the day.
Monday after Easter Sunday - Easter Monday
The last day of the long Easter holiday weekend. Marks the beginning of the beach picnicking season.
First Friday in June - Labour Day (Jun 6, 2025)
The Bahamas celebrates Randol Fawkes Labour Day on the first Friday in June. It's a public holiday that honors the work of Sir Randol Fawkes, a civil rights activist and unionist.
Seventh Monday after Easter - Whit Monday (Jun 9, 2025)
Marks the end of the Easter cycle, 50 days after Easter Sunday. It is the day after the Feast of Pentecost.
July 10th - Independence Day
Marks the day Bahamas became a fully independent nation, officially splitting from the United Kingdom in 1973.
First Monday in August - Emancipation Day (Aug 4, 2025)
It commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834.
Second Monday in October - National Heroes' Day (Oct 13, 2025)
Formerly known as "Discovery Day" or "Columbus Day," has now been dedicated to honoring Bahamian national heroes since 2013. An official National Heroes Day ceremony is held with a keynote speech by the Prime Minister, and heroes from a cross-section of civil society are celebrated with a week of activities.
December 25th - Christmas Day
The Christmas season in the Bahamas sees many carnivals and festivals throughout the country.
December 26th - Boxing Day
This holiday was granted to slaves the day after Christmas, when they were given the boxes left over from their master’s gifts. These boxes usually were sent from England and were well-crafted from fine wood. Hence the holiday is known as Boxing Day.
Where is the Mailboat?
The mailboat system has long been a lifeline for Abaco and its surrounding cays, weaving together the islands' communities and economies. Dating back to the early 1800s, vessels like the schooner Dart pioneered inter-island mail service, connecting remote settlements with Nassau and beyond. By the late 19th century, government-subsidized mailboats were vital in transporting not only mail but also passengers, livestock, and essential goods across the archipelago.
In Abaco, the Dean family has been central to this maritime tradition. Captain Ernest Dean, born in Sandy Point in 1915, established a legacy that continues today through Dean’s Shipping Ltd., now operated by his son, Ernest Dean Jr. Their current mailboat, the CHAMPION III, is a 2009-built landing craft with a carrying capacity of 1,327 tonnes. The vessel measures approximately 178 feet long (54.38 meters) and 59 feet wide (18 meters), with a draught of about 6.5 feet (2 meters), making her well-suited to navigate the shallow waters of the Bahamas.
For those eager to track the mailboat's arrival, you can monitor the CHAMPION III's real-time location via AIS tracking here.
Painting by talented artist Randy Curry from Green Turtle Cay of the 35' sloop the 'Captain Dean'.
Off-Season Closures
Many businesses close during the slow season for time off and repairs. This is typically between mid-August to mid-October, during the peak of hurricane season.
Green Turtle Cay
- Albert Lowe Museum - July 4th through mid-November
- Big O's (on No Name Cay) - closed for September
- Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina - closed for September
- Green Turtle Club - closed for September
- Pinapples Bar & Grill - Sep 3rd thru mid to late November
- Seagrapes Cafe & Seagrapes Spirits - closed for September
- Spilligate Bar & Lounge - staying open
- Sundowners - closed for September
- Turtle Crawl Cafe - open as usual
- Wrecking Tree - closed for September
Treasure Cay
- Bahama Beach Club Resort - closed for September
- Fruity Freddie Farms Hydroponics - closed for September & October
Great Guana Cay
- Grabbers - staying open
- Nipper's - staying open
Elbow Cay
- Cap'n Jack's - closed for September
- Firefly - closed for September
- On Da Beach Bar & Grill - closed for September
- Sea Spray Resort & Marina - closed for September
Marsh Harbour
- Pete's Pub - closed for September
- Snappas Bar - typically closes for part of September
- Wally's - closed September through November
CONTACT US with updates to add to the list.
