Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival

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MusicCat Island
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsRake and scrape's defining instrument, a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: BSD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival in Cat Island

Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival is an annual outdoor music festival, usually held in June, celebrating the Bahamian folk genre built around a scraped carpenter's saw, accordion and goatskin drum. Cat Island is widely regarded as the tradition's heartland, and the festival mixes veteran players with younger bands in front of a crowd genuinely invested in preserving the music.

Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival gathers musicians from across the Bahamas on the island widely credited as the tradition's heartland, celebrating a genre built around the carpenter's handsaw, goatskin drum and accordion.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Rake and scrape's defining instrument, a standard carpenter's handsaw bent and scraped with a metal file for rhythm, makes this one of the more distinctive musical traditions in the Caribbean, and Cat Island's relative isolation is part of why the style survived here after fading in more developed parts of the Bahamas

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival deliberately mixes veteran musicians, some performing for decades, with younger acts, functioning as both a celebration and a handoff of the tradition

03

The city starts moving

Limited resort development on Cat Island also keeps the crowd weighted toward genuine music enthusiasts and Bahamian visitors rather than cruise-ship day-trippers passing through

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Rake and scrape

Water and renewal

Living ritual

built around a scraped carpenter's saw

The sacred route

Living ritual

accordion and goatskin drum

The local code

Living ritual

developed in Out Island Bahamian settlements and is most strongly associated with Cat Island

Tradition 5

Living ritual

where the festival functions as an active effort to keep veteran players performing and pass the style to younger musicians

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Plan the trip into Cat Island around the exact event area, then leave extra time for the return.

What to wear

Dress for an outdoor, all-day event in island heat: breathable clothing, a hat and sunscreen for daylight hours, comfortable shoes for standing and dancing, and a light layer for evening...

Safety

Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Cat Island.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

BSD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map25.06 N, 77.34 WOpen in Google Maps

Cat Island, Cat Island, Bahamas

Nearest airportZSA — San Salvador
TransportPlan the trip into Cat Island around the exact event area, then leave extra time for the return.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Cat Island.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Cat Island via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Cat Island, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearDress for an outdoor, all-day event in island heat: breathable clothing, a hat and sunscreen for daylight hours, comfortable shoes for standing and dancing, and a light layer for evening once performances run later.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Bahamas and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival?

Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival is listed for June · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Cat Island, Bahamas. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Cat Island, Cat Island, Bahamas

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLbahamas.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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