Kingston Jamaica: The National Arena grounds will be transformed into the Jamaica 57 Independence Festival Village as it has been designated the cultural hub for the 2019 Independence celebratory activities.
In keeping with this year’s Independence theme “Jamaica 57 – One Nation… One People”, the free Independence Festival Village and paid nightly entertainment shows promise an exciting and thrilling experience for all Jamaicans and visitors alike.
The Village will be open with free admission from Thursday, August 1 to Tuesday, August 6, beginning at 12 noon daily and will feature activities for the entire family including live performances, promotional booths and displays, exhibitions, a food court, a Kiddies Village with rides and other attractions.
While the paid nightly shows, which will run from August 1 to August 4 are: Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation – Thursday August 1, World Reggae Dance Championship – Friday, August 2, Mello-Go-Roun’ – Saturday, August 3 and Jamaica Gospel Song Grand Final – Sunday, August 4. All nightly shows will be live-streamed on the JCDC’s website: www.jcdc.gov.jm.
August Mawnin’ Market, Festival Queen Grand Coronation – August 1
On Emancipation Day, Thursday, August 1 the Independence Village opens bright and early at 7:00 am with the annual August Mawnin’ Market. This event replicates the popular ‘Sat’day’ shopping experience, inclusive of reasonably-priced, fresh, produce on sale. The day will end with the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation providing the night’s entertainment at 8:00 p.m.
World Reggae Dance – August 2, Mello-Go-Roun – August 3,
Friday, August 2 will see the highly anticipated finals of the World Reggae Dance Championship, which will bring dancers from across the globe to the National Arena, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Then Saturday, August 4, will see Mello Go-Roun’, the premier festival family festival, which will feature the best of the best in Dance, Drama, Music, Speech and Traditional Folk Forms, also beginning at 8:00 pm.
Jamaica Gospel Song – August 4, Grand Gala – August 6
On Sunday, August 4 the National Arena will be filled with praise for the grand final of the Jamaica Gospel Song Competition beginning at 7:00 p.m. Then Independence Day, Tuesday, August 6 will see the culmination of the Independence Festival activities with a grand affair at the national stadium with the annual cultural showcase, Grand Gala, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
While the daily village is free for entry, tickets for each nightly show are adults $1000 presold and $1200 at the gate; and children $400.
Presold tickets may be purchased from the JCDC Head Office at 3-5 Phoenix Ave, Kingston 10, between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm daily and at the Independence Village at the JCDC’s booth between 12 noon and 5:00 pm daily.
Tickets may also be purchased at the following Fontana Pharmacy locations: Barbican, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Savana La Mar and Mandeville.
Jamaicans at home and abroad are also being encouraged to join in the Independence festivities by participating in this year’s Festival Fashion theme: “Roots and Culture” by wearing outfits inspired by their cultural heritage.
