WESTERN BUREAU – Veteran musician Freddy McGregor is to headline the contemporary acts at this year’s staging of the annual Nyammins and Jammins food festival and concert that targets the development of the island’s 4-H Club movement.

The event, which is in its fourth year, is to be staged at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay on October 18.

In addition to McGregor, an internationally renowned singer, songwriter and producer, the inimitable Fab 5 Band; live wire performer Renee from the Rising Stars competition; deejay Mikey Ranks; and veteran deejay Satta Ranks are scheduled to entertain patrons at this year’s event. Shirley Willis, former lead singer for the Grace Thrillers, will be the headline act for the gospel section of the event.

Coordinator Marlene Stephenson-Daley has noted in the interim that they were taking this year’s event up a notch, with the offering of a more expansive cuisine and entertainment package for patrons young and old. And if booth space rental is anything to go by, indications are that this year’s event could prove a success since the 80 booths up for rental have been taken.

Stephenson-Daley said the event would showcase a range of culinary delights for which the country is renowned, and horticultural displays. And in accordance with their education theme, Stephenson-Daley said there would also be displays from:

. the Police Narcotics Division and the Institute of Jamaica;

. the HIV/STI Control Programme and the HEART Academy;

. the Montego Bay Marine Park and the Forestry Division; and

. the RURAL Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

The usual “Kids’ Village”, with its play equipment like the bounce-about and the merry-go-round, will be constructed.

The Mr and Mrs 4-H Contest competition will also be held and will see 10 young men and women competing for the crown.

Chairman of the 4-H Movement Senator Norman Grant, has in the interim, hailed Nyammins and Jammins as one of the movement’s stellar events.

Lenworth Fulton, the movement’s executive director, echoed the senator’s sentiment.

“This programme signals to the people across Jamaica that our programmes are up and running. It is also the lead event in the Jamaica 4-H Clubs. It is that event which pulls volunteers together – when we said volunteers, we are talking about five thousand of them,” he said.