The Jerk bells are ringing. Will you be tuning into the 2020 virtual JerkFest?

BY JONELL PANTLITZ

JerkFest has been one of the biggest festivals awaited each year for 18 years, by not only the Caribbean community but a variety of communities. It’s the festival where diverse groups get together to celebrate their love for Caribbean culture.

Thankfully, the promoters of JerkFest know how important it is to celebrate the exotic flavour, and vibrancy of our people. The love of music, the arts, and the jerk cuisine, keeps our connection and sense of belonging alive.

Grace International Jerk Food & Music Festival (Grace JerkFest), presented by TD will be setting the summer on fire. They have one of the hottest Reggae performers, Grammy Award-winning recording artist, fresh off his Verzuz battle with Bounty Killer Beenie Man headlining this year’s festival performing some of his biggest hits, live Stream on Saturday, August 8^th. Opening up for him will be the Queen of Soca, Alison Hinds, straight from Barbados

The pairing for Sunday, August 9^th will be Jamaica’s fast-rising songbird Lila Iké (Forget Me, Biggest Fan) and Grammy-nominated Reggae singer Jah Cure (All of Me, Rasta).

This two-day FREE event takes place Saturday, August 8^th and Sunday, August 9^th, 2020 on the JerkFest.ca website from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm each night.

This year’s Grace JerkFest will be hosted by Canada’s Renaissance man Jay Martin, Rebel Vibez’s, Carrie Mullings aka Mumma Canada, Blog TO’s Azalea Hart, Internet/Instagram funny man Majah Hype and Jamaican comedian White Yardie. They will be taking the audience through a full slate of Canadian performers showcasing Caribbean dance, steel pan and music intertwined with cooking demonstrations by popular Chef Noel Cunningham.

“During the live, people will get a chance to win prizes from Grace products. There are hotel giveaways and food baskets as well,” says Chef Noel Cunningham. From Chef Noel, viewers can expect some creative cooking, with a diverse range of cuisines and Jamaican flavours been fused together with international dishes.

Any JerkFest would just be a fest without some heavenly jerk food. Viewers, they got you covered because, during this virtual JerkFest, GTA vendors will be available for pre-orders for you to enjoy during the Live Stream, as well as curb side pick-up and delivery offered during the broadcast.

One of the restaurant vendors Viv’s Island Catering & Takeout explains her excitement about the upcoming event.

“Viv’s Catering & Takeout will transport you to various places in the Caribbean by tantalizing your palates with an authentic taste of West Indian dishes,” says Vivienne Nelson. “Because it is different this year, it’s going to be precedent. People should tune in because this will be a much talked about event for this year. This is going to be a page in the history of COVID-19 and you can’t miss being a part of it.”

Unfortunately, I have not been able to contact all of the vendors partaking in JerkFest, but Piranha Catering, The Jerk Box and Taste of Jamaica will also be providing food during this virtual event.

Additionally Crowned Elements will be in attendance, and according to Jordan Dillon we can expect “Flavours that people are familiar with but with a hint of something new.” I do not know about you guys, but that sounds intriguing.

“Support something that is inspirational. It’s one festival, and probably the only festival that is going to happen this year, so definitely take notice. Take notice of a company that has chosen not to, sit down; they found a way to be evolutionary in a way,”