BY KEVIN JACKSON—-

 Top: Romain Virgo
Bottom: (From left) Richard Lue of VP Records; Wayne Miller of Grace Foods International; and Eddy Edwards of Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival Inc, at the media launch of Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival in Washington DC recently.

Reggae acts Tarrus Riley, Queen Ifrica and Romain Virgo will be part of the entertainment offerings at the second staging of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival in Washington DC.It takes place on Sunday, June 18, at its new home on the Festival Lawn at RFK Stadium, Lot 6, in celebration of June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. The announcement was made by “Eddy” Edwards, CEO of Jamaican Jerk Festival USA, Inc, at a recent media launch at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington D C.

“The move to RFK Stadium allows us to deliver a much better patron experience and overcome many of the challenges we faced last year on Pennsylvania Avenue. There is more space to accommodate additional features such as an upscale VIP area, expand the kids’ zone and present a layout similar to the New York and Florida festivals,” said Edwards.

Thousands are expected to flock to the festival for a taste of jerk cuisine, cultural offerings, and a sizzling main stage concert featuring additional performers including Ras Slick and Image band, as well as soca stars Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons.

GraceJerkFestWashington17

Activities in the jerk cook-off pavilion will feature Food Network’s Chopped winner Andre Fowles and Chef Irie, host of Taste the Caribbean TV show, demonstrating and sampling tasty dishes. Celebrity chefs will battle in fierce cooking clashes for bragging rights and the coveted Dutch Pot Trophy, to the cheers of their supporters.

The cultural stage will offer a variety of artistic and literary performances celebrating ‘Jamaica 55’. Sounds of Culture will offer a dish of traditional folk songs, while Divine Divas will excite the audience with contemporary dance and fashion.

An expanded Kidz Zone will offer interactive activities to entertain the young at heart.

 The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, DC is presented by the Institute of Caribbean Studies and produced by Jamaican Jerk Festival NY, LLC, in association with VP Records.
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