MONTEGO BAY, St James — Organisers are gunning to make the third staging of the Rainforest Seafood Festival, scheduled for the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay on Ash Wednesday, February 18, the best ever.

“We are determined to top our previous efforts and plan to have a legendary event — legendary seafood, legendary artistes and hopefully a legendary donation to We Care for Cornwall Regional Hospital,” said Bethany Young, public relations associate for the event.

With this year’s line-up of artistes, which boasts formidable acts, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Marcia Griffiths, Jah Cure, Lt Stitchie, Agent Sasco and Ding Dong, the evening concert could easily be the best since 2013.

The concert should follow a fireworks show to be put on as soon as the evening skies become dark.

There should also be a full day of fun for the family which will feature activities such as Kiddies village with free rides and activities for the children.

“Also scheduled for the daytime are culinary demos from the Culinary Federation of Jamaica and competitions with great prizes, including gift baskets and Digicel phones and credit,” said Young, adding that the event will also feature an entertainment package with stilt walkers, dancers, face painting and ground rides.

Meanwhile, a new addition to the daytime activities is Chukka Caribbean’s area where they will feature a zipline and horseback rides.

Additionally, there will be adequate choices of food to satisfy the appetite from approximately 25 vendors drawn from across the island including, well-known Gloria’s, Prendy’s on the Beach, Little Ochi Seafood and Spring Garden Café.

Gates will open at 11:00 am and the event is scheduled to end at 11:00pm.

Meanwhile, organisers of the

one-day festival are hoping to raise $10 million from the event, which will go towards the We Care for Cornwall Regional Hospital Foundation and will be used to assist in the purchase a Bronchoscopy machine valued at US$45,000.

We Care is a non-profit, philanthropic organisation dedicated to meeting the regional hospital’s need for additional manpower, basic health care equipment and infrastructual upgrades.

In 2013, the organisation’s first year, the festival raised $6 million, which was used to purchase two ventilator machines, and last year they raised $8.5 million, which went towards the refurbishing of the accident and emergency ward.