Plans are falling into place for the staging of the third annual Jamaican Jerk Festival, scheduled for Sunday, September 19, at C. B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The air will once again be filled with spice-scented smoke from barbecue grills and pits. Men, women and children will eat jerk chicken, pork, fish and other fare to the tune of reggae, calypso and mento music.

The organizers promise several improvements including expanding the entertainment areas to this year’s festival. “We are building on last year’s success,” says Eddy Edwards of Ridims Marketing, one of the promoters of the Jamaican Jerk Festival. “Currently we are in discussions with several internationally renowned celebrities whom we have invited to participate in the festival. We are also planning additional activities for the children’s fun zone.”

An expanded Cultural Heritage Village will feature folk singers, story tellers as well as dancers and more artifacts from the past. Jamaica’s internationally renowned Fabulous Five band and Antigua’s Burning Flames band will be performing on the main stage along with the Mighty Vikings and the Blue Glades Mento Band. Another major attraction will be the Air Jamaica Vacations Travel Village featuring several Caribbean vacation destinations offering discount rates to festival patrons. This will be in addition to the hotly contested Jerk Cook-Off Competition, the Jerk Pork Eating contest, Domino Contest and the Best Booth Competition, all staples from last year.

“Every effort is being made to make the Jamaican Jerk Festival a true family event,” says Edwards, “Our goal is to make this one of the top Caribbean festivals in South Florida as the popularity of ‘Jerk’ crosses all ethnic boundaries and appeals to Florida’s dynamic multi-ethnic population.”

Vendors have begun to register for booths and this year’s Jerk Cook-off Competition will be highly contested as last year’s winner Joseph “Papa Joe” Voden, will be challenged by many contenders who are eager to prove their culinary supremacy.

Last year’s festival was an overwhelming success with over 5,000 patrons attending. The promoters anticipate doubling that amount this year as the festival promises to be bigger and better. They are pulling out all the stops to ensure an enjoyable fun filled day for the entire family.

The Jamaican Jerk Festival is produced and presented by Ridims Marketing and Jamaica Awareness in association with Air Jamaica.

For further information call Ridims Marketing at 305-405-2712.