The 16th annual MoBay Jerk & Food Festival will occur on Emancipation Day, August 1st, at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay. The festival will celebrate Jamaica's history of survival, creativity, and resistance through jerk cuisine.
Festival Launch
The official launch of the MoBay Jerk & Food Festival took place Wednesday at the S Hotel in Montego Bay. Richard Vernon, Mayor of Montego Bay, and John Lindo, Festival Director, both made statements at the event.
Economic Impact and Community Pride
Mayor Vernon emphasized the festival’s economic significance, stating:
Each year, this event supports over 100 vendors, dozens of entertainers, and countless small businesses. It’s more than just a weekend of fun, it’s a season of opportunity and local economic enhancement.
Vernon also noted that cultural festivals like this bolster community pride and international appeal. He said, "As we improve infrastructure and attract new investment, cultural festivals like this help to build community pride and international appeal."
Celebrating Jamaican Heritage
The festival will feature live entertainment, craft vendors, family activities, and a Celebrity Cook-Off. The theme of this year's festival is "Jamaica: Food Capital of the World."
Festival Director John Lindo highlighted the historical importance of jerk. Lindo said:
Jerk is not just food. It is a legacy of our ancestors, the Maroons, the enslaved Africans, who turned scarcity into innovation and oppression into identity. This festival honours that spirit.
Lindo added that jerk belongs to the people, emphasizing the festival's role in honoring those who created it and the freedom they fought for. Lindo noted:
Jerk is history you can taste. It belongs to the people. And through this festival, we honour those who created it, and the freedom they fought for.
The festival supports over 100 vendors, entertainers, and small businesses.
Jamaica News Bulletin is your premier source for the best in Jamaican news
