THE ANNUAL Portland Jerk Festival, usually held the last Sunday in June, is scheduled for July 20 this year.
The festival which turns four this year will take place in its usual spot on the Boston playfied in Boston, Portland, between 10:00 a.m. and
7:00 p.m.
The hot and spicy festivities will be a family fun day with a kiddies corner, including a bounce-a-bout, merry-go-round, and face painting.
Entertainment for older folks will be provided by the Fab 5 band, a 'bruckins' group from Portland, as well as artistes John Holt and Wayne Marshall.
Then of course there'll be jerk in its many variations served from about 30 stalls jerk pork, jerk chicken, jerk fish, jerk lobster, jerk sausage and maybe even jerk conch with festival, breadfruit, yam, rice and peas, and more.
After a bellyful of jerk patrons may feel fortified enough to enter the domino, bingo or jerk-eating competition.
The Portland Parish Development Committee, organisers of the event, say they
guarantee a 250 per cent increase in efficiency at the gate, an emergency crew on hand, and improvements in the schedule of the shuttle system.
