KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) —The popular festival bandwagons return this year, bringing independence celebrations to communities across the island.

The mobile entertainment show, from August 3 to 5, will feature performances from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) festival of the performing arts in the areas of music, speech, drama, dance and traditional folk forms.  They will also feature talents from the Festival Song and Gospel Song Competitions, and other acts.

The three-day celebration kicks off in St Catherine, with stops at various communities, including Church Pen, McCook, Innswood, Willowdene, Spanish Town bypass, Greater Portmore Post Office, and Hellshire Road, before ending the day at Naggo Head bus park.

On day two, the bandwagon will start at Six Miles, and travel to Duhaney Park Washington Boulevard, Molynes Road, Waltham Park Road, ending in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew. 

St Thomas will be the focus on day three beginning at Bull Bay, then on to Albion, Yallahs, Whitehorses, Church Pen, Morant Bay and Seaforth.

JCDC’s Eastern Regional Manager, David Reid said that the JCDC’s aim is to get every citizen involved in the independence celebrations.

“Not everyone can hold in the stadium (for the grand gala) and the JCDC wants to give persons right across Jamaica a chance to celebrate. This is the 54th staging of our Independence and we cannot get any bigger than this,” he said. 

The Regional Manager is inviting all Jamaicans to join in the Independence celebrations under the theme ‘Let’s Get Together and Feel Alright’.

“It is very important that people in Jamaica recognise that this is a significant day in our history, that we come out and give thanks that we have a day to celebrate our Independence,” he added.