Organisers of the annual Ocho Rios Seafood Festival and Family Fun Day have been given a major boost with Jamaica Public Service (JPS) coming on board.

The event is scheduled for Turtle River Park on Emancipation Day, Tuesday, August 1.

“It’s great to receive such a high-calibre sponsorship in JPS,” explained Camille Miller, the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival’s marketing manager. “This only goes to show the type of confidence our sponsors have in the event, and the fact that it is both family-and community-related.”

Last week, Hah-R-Mony Entertainment was secured as title sponsor. The Jamaica Tourist Board and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport have also endorsed the event.

“The Ocho Rios Seafood Festival is notably one of the biggest food festivals on the island. Having the Tourism Ministry using this event as part of its marketing tool to bring guests to the island is really something we truly feel good about,” she said. “Also, having our festival as one of the designated Jamaica 55 events is a major deal and something we will take with pride going into the Emancipation and Independence holidays.”

Miller said the festival will be “the ‘grand gala’ of the Emancipation/ Independence holidays on the north coast”, adding that “if you are looking for an event that will give you the widest array of non-stop entertainment, then look no further. We will be bringing the drummers, the acrobats, and the magicians. We will be bringing the entire farm-so the families and all our patrons will get true value for their money. We also want to take this opportunity to announce that kids will be able to ride all day, for free.”

She said the list of entertainers includes Kevin Downsell, D’Angel, Noddy Virtue, Symatic, Tinga Stewart, Eric Donaldson, Jodian Pantry, Zagga, Keith Campbell, Pappy V (a Sean Kingston protégé from out of Miami), and Sandra Brooks.