Staff WriterCharleston, SC—South Carolina Caribbean Festival, Inc hosts the Third Annual Charleston Carifest with five events over three days. The Caribbean Gala will kick off events on Friday June 20 at the Holiday Inn on International Boulevard at 6:45 PM. The keynote speaker will be Hon. Dr. Izben Williams the St Kitts and Nevis Ambassador to the US, and dinner will include dishes from the National Dish of St Kitts and Nevis. Entertainment will include Pantasia SteelBand, Tropix International, and Lance Star Reggae Band.
On Saturday, June 21 at 1:00 PM the Carnival Street Parade will start from the Visitor’s Center down King Street to Carolina Street, to Fishburne Street leading into Brittle Bank Park under the auspices of the Grand Marshall the Hon. Dr. Izben Williams. This colourful display of caribbean pagentry, the first of its kind in Charleston featuring costume clad revelers will be accompanied by the music of the islands.
The Revelers will join the celebration in Brittle Bank Park. The festivities will continue in the Park until 9:00 PM. Entertainment in the Park will include local and foreign artists, from St Kitts and Nevis, Cas 1; the National Masquerade Troupe; the reigning Calypso King, from Florida the Caribbean Natives of Slice International, the hottest Reggae, Soca, Zouk Band on the Southeast coast, from NC the Trinidadian Dance Princess, and from Charleston the Caribbean-Latino dance troupe of Buen Ache. The Caribbean Marketplace will feature food, drinks, craft and with the backdrop of the water and the boats it will help to create the Caribbean carinival atmosphere.
On Sunday, June 22, at 11:00 AM Grace United Methodist Church,1601 Sam Rittenburg across from Chuckie Cheese will host the Caribbean Church Service. Gemini 1820 will provide music. The celebrations will end with the Last Lap at Brittle Bank Park starting at 12:30 PM right after church.
Head for the Park after church and have Caribbean food for lunch while enjoying the music of the Last Lap. This will include SteelBand, Jazz and Gospel Music, and get educated at the Caribbean Health Expo. Artists include the Brunson Elementary Steel Band from Brunson SC., the Jazz group of Lonnie Hamilton III, Leigh Ann and Rev Richard Robinson on drums; Ian Sanchez, Gospel music and Praise Dancers from Morris Street Baptist, House of Praise Ministry; Tanya Allen; Mother /Daughter Duo; Michael Gresh recording artist and more.
Celebrate Caribbean American Heritage. Our Charleston CARIFEST sponsors are South Carolina State University, Comcast, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Berkeley Electric, Citadel Broadcasting, and City of Charleston Recreation Department.
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