Portland Jerk Festival on July 3

PORTLAND — The 12th staging of the Annual Portland Jerk Festival will be held at the Folly Estate in Port Antonio on Sunday, July 3.

The event will commence at 10 a.m. and will feature authentic jerk vendors from Portland and other areas offering jerked pork, lobster, shrimp, goat, beef, conch and other jerked meats, at reasonable prices.

Entertainment will feature a number of artistes and cultural performers throughout the day. Among the offerings will be a Gospel Show, featuring the ten finalists in this year’s Jamaica Cultural Developments Commission (JCDC) Gospel Song Competition, a vintage old hit session, with Ernie Smith, Pat Kelly, Nick Dillon and Errol Dunkley, and a night segment preceding performances by the ten finalists in this year’s Popular Song Competition, featuring Beenie Man, Sizzla, Etana, Terry Linen and Konshens, among others.

The entertainment package will also include a number of activities for children, including a kiddies’ village with attractions such as bounce-a-bout and merry-go-round.

Sponsors for the event are Best Dressed Foods, Digicel, Supreme Venures, Red Stripe, Life Span Water and Kingston Hireage.

Speaking to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Coordinator of the festival, Dahlia Minott, said efforts are being made to ensure that this year’s event matches those of the past.

She said it will showcase the best Portland has to offer in food and family entertainment, adding that she was confident that it will provide an opportunity for patrons to also experience and enjoy the extraordinary hospitality of Portlanders.

By ASTON G. BAILEY, JIS Reporter