Thousands Expected at Trelawny Yam Festival on April 17

Thousands of Jamaicans and visitors to the island are expected to attend the Trelawny Yam Festival, to be held in Albert Town on Easter Monday, April 17. The event is being organized by the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA).
“The Yam Festival is the celebration of the culture of Trelawny and its main crop. The event will feature many exciting activities and competitions for people ranging from young children to senior citizens,” STEA’s Chairman, Hugh Dixon told JIS News.
He informed that the festival would entail a week of activities, beginning on Friday, April 7 with the schools’ competition, which should see students from the parish competing in the categories of Song, Poem and Dance.
Other activities include a Farmers’ Field Celebration on Tuesday, April 11; the Yam King and Queen pageant on Thursday, April 13 and a Road and Cycle Race from Falmouth and Warsop to Albert Town Square on Sunday, April 16.
“The grand festival day will showcase the Trelawny yam and its endless creative possibilities. The events will include a wide variety of cultural performances, music, craft and commercial exhibits. Food vendors will also be selling a variety of yam dishes, jerk and all other Jamaican favourites at the festival village,” he said.
Mr. Dixon said that persons who were interested in vending opportunities at the event could contact STEA by calling 610-0818.
Parish Manager for the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Donald Robinson, told JIS News that RADA’s Home Economics Department would be participating in the event.
“Our Home Economics groups in Albert Town, Sawyers and Ulster Spring will be showcasing the versatility and multiplicity of uses of yam. They will be selling yam chips and yam wines, among other things,” he said.
Mr. Robinson is urging members of the public to participate in the yam festival, “as it promises to be a grand celebration”.