‘Last fête of the season’ heads downtown

The carnival festivities continue as Main Event Entertainment Group, Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and Red Stripe Flavours partner with Kingston Creative to host the “last fête of the season”–Carnival Lyme– on Sunday, April 28.

The event promises to immerse patrons in the rich Caribbean culture in the heart of downtown Kingston, offering attendees steel pan music by the Panoriddim Orchestra, a live musical performance by the Alpha Institute Community Band, and dance showcases by the Denham Town Dance Academy. The day will conclude with a vibrant Carnival fête hosted by deejays Brush1 ‘The Road Marshal’ and Bloodline Franco.

Deputy Director of Kingston Creative Janet Crick said that touring downtown is integral to the Festival, “We want everyone to explore downtown and experience the rich culture in the communities so they can appreciate and preserve our heritage. We are very pleased to partner with Trench Town Culture Yard on this tour as it is rich in musical heritage.”

To kick off the festivities, there will be a free bus tour to the iconic Trench Town Culture Yard as part of the Rediscover Downtown initiative. This historic site, once home to legendary musician Bob Marley, now houses a museum showcasing the rich history of Trench Town and artefacts used by music icons such as Tata Ford, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer. The meticulously restored 1940s buildings make it a must-visit heritage tourism destination.

“Events like these perfectly align with our brand,” said Brand Manager of Red Stripe Flavours, Jodi-Ann Campbell. She continued, “We are always interested in supporting gatherings where our consumers embrace our cultural melting pot, so committing to this partnership was not a hard task. We look forward to seeing the patrons enjoy the experience– for this is not a mere party, it is an experience­– and we look forward to more partnerships that aim to connect people in an exciting way.”

The programme will also feature dominoes, Paint & Sip sessions, and performances by poets Rica G and Viridian from the PenSoul Poets. Over 40 artisans will sell handcrafted Jamaican art, books, beauty products, fashion, clothing, ceramics, and jewellery. Some vendors include Marcia Adams’s Beauty Lies Within, Mekari Beauty and Karen’s Kitchen. Additionally, a discussion will be led by Marvin George, dean of Studies at the EMCVPA School of Drama, focusing on the cultural significance of Carnival in Jamaica.