Harbour Island, Bahamas – A celebration of food, culture and heritage radiated through Harbour Island, Eleuthera on Friday, August 21 as the 4th Annual Lobster Head Fest brought music, dancing and the best eats to the street near the historic VIC-HUM.
Under the theme ‘Let’s Break Bread Together With Love’, the street-styled festival honored Bahamian fishermen, families, faith, tradition and community, particularly the communities of Harbour Island and North Eleuthera.
Throughout the event, which was centered around the lobster season, attendees enjoyed great food, music, laughter, and games – all free of charge, and against the beautiful sunny and relaxing backdrop of Harbour Island.
Lobster Head Fest Founder Joseph John Humphrey William Roberts Percentie, also known as ‘Jay Jay’ said the idea for Lobster Head Fest came from his desire to create something that would bring the Harbour Island community together while honoring the people, traditions and way of life that have shaped the island for generations.
“Lobster Head Fest is not simply about food,” Percentie said, explaining the depth of the festival and its celebration of community. “It is not simply about music, and it is certainly not simply about putting on an event. For me, it is about us.”
Percentie added, “The event was designed for the entire community. There is room at the table for our young people and our elders, for people whose families have been here for generations and for people who have chosen to make Harbour Island their home. When we sit together, eat together, laugh together and remember one another, we strengthen the bonds that make us a community.”
Attendees enjoyed lobster, chicken, steak, pasta, and more mouth-watering dishes served buffet style, while jamming to music from the Island Groove Band. A Junkanoo rush-out brought more culture to the streets with guests dancing and enjoying a day of fun and family.
Percentie said a mission of Lobster Head Fest is to honor the fishermen and hardworking people who helped build the island, acknowledge its elders and celebrate the generations who came before.
“I wanted Lobster Head Fest to remind us that community still matters, kindness still matters and looking after your neighbor still matters,” he said. “Our fishermen deserve to be honored. Our children deserve to inherit an island that still knows who it is. And our people deserve opportunities to come together, not divided by status, age, family or circumstance, but united by our love for Harbour Island.”
Percentie added, “Seeing the community come together in the way it did showed me that we accomplished what we set out to do. My hope is that people did not leave feeling as though they had simply attended another event. I hope they left with a renewed sense of what community means and an appreciation for the people, history, faith and traditions that have made Harbour Island what it is.
This year’s Lobster Head Fest was widely supported by the church, fishermen and business community.
