Most Bahamian shops are typically open Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm. Banks are generally open Monday to Thursday 9am-3pm and Friday 9am-5pm; Out Island banks may have very limited opening hours and be open one or two days per week. While Bahamian stores are permitted to open on Sunday, almost none does, making Sunday a very quiet day, at least for commerce. Otherwise, shopping is best in the morning when the crowds are few and the temperature mild.

The Bahamian year features many important festivals and holidays , reaching its peak during the Christmas holiday season. Celebrated on December 26 and again on New Year's morning, Junkanoo is a lively national festival, especially colourful in Nassau, where thousands of revellers descend on Bay Street dressed in elaborate costumes and dance wildly through the night and into the early morning.

The Eleuthera Pineapple Festival occurs in early June in Gregory Town, while during spring and summer countless fishing tournaments and regattas take place, including the famous Bahamas Family Island Regatta at George Town in the Exumas during the last week of April. Long Island and Abaco also feature popular regattas.

Bahamians, especially those in Fox Hill in Nassau, celebrate Emancipation Day in the first week of August, partaking in parades and food, as well as cultural events. Fireworks and parades highlight Independence Week , which culminates on July 10. Bahamian tourist centres provide lists of the many festivals, holidays and craft shows that occur year-round.

Holidays that fall on Saturday or Sunday are generally observed on the preceding Friday or the following Monday.

January 1 New Year's Day

March/April Good Friday, Easter Monday

Whit Monday

First Friday in June Labour Day

July 10 Independence Day

First Monday in August Emancipation Day

October 12 Discovery Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 Boxing Day