The Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival is an annual cultural and music festival held on Cat Island, The Bahamas, during the country’s Labour Day weekend in June. Official tourism sources describe it as Cat Island’s signature event, celebrating the island’s close association with Rake & Scrape music through live performances, traditional dancing, Bahamian food, crafts and community activities.
The festival is held in Arthur’s Town, a settlement in northern Cat Island. For 2026, the official Tourism Today event listing scheduled the festival for June 4–6, with the Rake and Scrape Festival Site in Arthur’s Town identified as the venue. The 2026 event has already taken place, and contemporary reporting confirms festival activity in Arthur’s Town on June 5.
Rake & Scrape itself is one of the defining musical traditions of The Bahamas. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism identifies Cat Island as the birthplace of the country's indigenous Rake & Scrape tradition and describes the music as being created using repurposed materials and instruments including saws and goatskin drums. The annual festival provides one of the most concentrated opportunities for travelers to experience this musical heritage on the island most closely associated with it.
Programming documented for the festival includes performances by local and national artists, a Gospel concert, Battle of the Rake & Scrape Bands, quadrille dancing, children's activities, and a fishermen and farmers' market. Visitors can also encounter Cat Island cuisine and locally produced crafts, including jewelry and straw work.
For travelers researching Cat Island festivals, authentic Bahamian music or cultural events in The Bahamas, the Rake & Scrape Festival offers a direct connection to living island traditions rather than a staged heritage attraction.
KEY FACTS
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Destination Name: Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival
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Category: Events, Festivals & Culture
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Destination Type: Music Festival / Cultural Festival / Heritage Event
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Location: Arthur’s Town, Cat Island, The Bahamas
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Island Group: Bahamian Out Islands
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2026 Dates: June 4–6, 2026
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Usual Timing: Bahamas Labour Day weekend in June
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Known For: Rake & Scrape music, Battle of the Rake & Scrape Bands, quadrille dancing, Bahamian food and local crafts
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Best For: Cultural travelers, music enthusiasts, families, photographers, food lovers and visitors interested in Bahamian heritage
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Nearby Attractions: Arthur’s Town, northern Cat Island beaches and settlements
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Transportation Access: Road transportation on Cat Island
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Airport Access: Arthur’s Town Airport serves northern Cat Island
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Ideal Length of Visit: One evening to the full festival weekend
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Best Time to Visit: Labour Day weekend in June for the festival; Cat Island's Rake & Scrape tradition can also be encountered at other times of year
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Family Friendly: Yes; official festival programming includes a children's activity area
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Official Source: Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival – Tourism Today
DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS
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Annual Cat Island cultural festival held during The Bahamas’ Labour Day weekend.
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Hosted in Arthur’s Town, reinforcing the settlement's relationship with Cat Island's Rake & Scrape heritage.
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Live Rake & Scrape performances by local and national artists.
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Battle of the Rake & Scrape Bands highlighting different performers and interpretations of the musical tradition.
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Traditional quadrille dancing accompanies the Bahamian music during festival celebrations.
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Gospel music is included among the documented festival programming.
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Children's activities make the festival accessible to families traveling with younger visitors.
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Fishermen and farmers' market connects the cultural event with Cat Island's local community and producers.
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Bahamian food provides a culinary component alongside music and dancing.
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Locally produced crafts include jewelry and traditional straw items.
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Part of the festival's proceeds supports a scholarship for a local high-school graduate.
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The festival is officially recognized as Cat Island's signature annual musical event.
RAKE & SCRAPE MUSIC & CAT ISLAND
Cat Island has one of the strongest geographic associations with Rake & Scrape anywhere in The Bahamas. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism describes the island as the birthplace of the country's indigenous Rake & Scrape music and states that the tradition has its roots there.
Traditional Rake & Scrape is distinguished by rhythmic percussion and the use of adapted everyday objects. Official tourism material specifically references wood, saws and goatskin drums as components of the tradition.
The annual festival is important because it places this musical heritage within its Cat Island context. Instead of encountering Rake & Scrape simply as entertainment elsewhere in The Bahamas, travelers can experience the tradition alongside Cat Island musicians, dancers, food vendors, craftspeople and residents.
The tradition is not confined to festival weekend. Official Cat Island tourism information notes that Rake & Scrape bands can also be heard at local bars and restaurants throughout the year.
FESTIVAL MUSIC, DANCING & ACTIVITIES
Music forms the core of the festival, but the event is broader than a series of concerts.
Official programming includes performances by local and national Rake & Scrape artists and the Battle of the Rake & Scrape Bands. Quadrille dancing adds an important traditional dance component, while gospel music broadens the festival's representation of Cat Island's community culture.
Food, agriculture and crafts also have defined roles. Visitors can sample Cat Island cuisine, browse locally produced jewelry and straw work, and explore a fishermen and farmers' market. A children's corner with games adds a family-oriented element.
Together, these activities make the event relevant not only to music travelers but also to visitors interested in Bahamian food, crafts, dance and community traditions.
2026 CAT ISLAND RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL
The 2026 Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival was held June 4–6, 2026, during The Bahamas Labour Day weekend. The official event listing identified the Rake and Scrape Festival Site in Arthur’s Town as the venue.
Reporting after the festival confirms that the 2026 celebration took place in Arthur’s Town and that Prime Minister Philip Davis attended and was honored by the Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival Committee and local community on June 5.
The festival has historically been scheduled around the Labour Day weekend rather than a permanently fixed calendar date. Travelers planning future trips specifically for the event should therefore verify each year's dates before arranging flights and accommodations.
VISITOR INFORMATION
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Best Time to Visit: Labour Day weekend in June for the annual festival
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Suggested Visit Duration: One evening to three days
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Accessibility: Conditions depend on the festival site and temporary event setup
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Transportation Options: Rental vehicle, taxi or arranged local transportation
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Ferry Access: No dedicated festival ferry service verified
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Airport Access: Arthur’s Town Airport serves the northern part of Cat Island
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Accommodation Availability: Cat Island has small resorts, villas, inns and guest accommodations; advance planning is sensible for festival weekend
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Dining Availability: Festival food vendors and Cat Island restaurants provide dining options
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Family Suitability: Yes; children's activities form part of documented programming
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Photography Opportunities: Musicians, instruments, quadrille dancing, crafts, food and community celebrations
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Infrastructure Level: Community festival rather than a permanent entertainment complex
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Weather Considerations: June heat, rainfall and tropical weather can affect outdoor events
FAQ
IS THE RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL HELD EVERY YEAR ON CAT ISLAND?
Yes. Official tourism information describes the Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival as an annual event held around The Bahamas' Labour Day weekend. The exact dates should be checked each year before making travel arrangements.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CAT ISLAND RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL?
The festival features Rake & Scrape performances, a Battle of the Rake & Scrape Bands, gospel music and quadrille dancing. Programming also includes Cat Island cuisine, crafts, children's activities and a fishermen and farmers' market.
WHERE IS THE RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL HELD?
The festival is held in Arthur’s Town on Cat Island. The official 2026 listing identified the Rake and Scrape Festival Site in Arthur’s Town as the venue.
CAN FAMILIES ATTEND THE RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL?
Yes. The documented festival program includes a children's corner with games alongside music, dancing, food and cultural activities.
ARE THERE TRADITIONAL BAHAMIAN DANCES AT THE FESTIVAL?
Yes. Quadrille dancing accompanies the Rake & Scrape performances and is specifically highlighted by official Bahamas tourism sources.
WHY IS THE RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL IMPORTANT TO CAT ISLAND?
The festival celebrates one of Cat Island's strongest cultural identities. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism identifies Cat Island as the birthplace of Rake & Scrape, making the annual festival an important expression of the island's living musical heritage.
HOW LONG DOES THE CAT ISLAND RAKE & SCRAPE FESTIVAL LAST?
The length can vary by year. In 2026, the official schedule ran for three days, from June 4 through June 6, during the Labour Day weekend.
TRAVELER EXPECTATION SUMMARY
Travelers typically value the Cat Island Rake & Scrape Festival for its direct connection to living Bahamian culture. Rather than functioning only as a music concert, the event combines Rake & Scrape performances, quadrille dancing, Cat Island food, crafts, community activities and local traditions within the island most closely associated with this indigenous Bahamian musical form.
LOCAL AND DESTINATION CONTEXT
The Rake & Scrape Festival connects Arthur’s Town with the broader cultural identity of Cat Island and The Bahamas. Arthur’s Town anchors the festival in northern Cat Island, while attractions farther south—including New Bight, Mount Alvernia and The Hermitage—allow festival visitors to combine music and cultural heritage with the island's historic sites, settlements and beaches. This relationship strengthens Cat Island's identity not simply as an Out Island beach destination but as an important center for traditional Bahamian music and cultural heritage.
RELATED DESTINATIONS
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