The 17th annual Taste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, 300 Columbus Blvd. in Hartford.
The colorful event will feature music by reggae star Johnny Osbourne and other performers, food, teenagers in Caribbean carnival costumes, dance performances and children’s activities. The parade will begin at 12:05 p.m
The theme of the festival is “Separated by water, united by culture”. The rain date is Sunday. Entry is free.
Other performers – including music from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, the Virgin Islands and Dominica – are jazzmen Elan Trotman and Nelson Bello, gospel singer Jabez, singer Annicia Banks, Tribal Legacy Band, Platinum Band, Amandla Band, Kali Walé Bey , Hartford Steel Symphony, Sound Pipers, Sweet Noyz, Janice Hart and Greg Roy.
The Children’s Village, on the grounds of the adjacent Connecticut Science Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include face painting, carnival mask decorating and games.
The festival is presented by Riverfront Recapture, Taste of The Caribbean Arts & Culture CT and other community organizations including the Greater Hartford Arts Council.
Shelley D. Best, CEO of the arts council and of West Indian descent, said the festival “helps boost the creative economy by increasing engagement and diversity within the arts community.” tastect.org.
Susan Dunne can be reached at [email protected].
