First held in 2011, the New York edition of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival has emerged as a must-attend event in the Tri-State area. For Sunday’s staging, the organisers have enlisted Barrington Levy, Morgan Heritage, Konshens, and soca queen Alison Hinds to lead the charge on the main stage.

The event is scheduled for the Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York.

Event co-promoter Eddy Edwards said the event has grown from 4,000 patrons to 12,000, and explained what is different about this year’s staging.

“The activities in the Culinary Pavilion will feature Chef Patrick, executive chef of BB Kings in New York, and we have word that New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio is planning to return to try for a third Celebrity Challenge trophy, as he battles former Miss World and politician Lisa Hanna in what promises to be a sizzling showdown. The activities on the Cultural Stage will be more interactive this year and patrons can also take advantage of the opportunity to win several prizes offered by sponsors. We have several vendors selling exotic jerk offerings and we have made entering the venue much easier for patrons than in previous years,” he told Splash.

Festival director Abdul Muhsin is fired up about this year’s main stage line-up.

“We are espousing a part of our culture that’s endemic and that we share with the world-our food, our music and our culture. Everybody loves jerk, everybody loves reggae and everybody loves Morgan Heritage, Alison Hinds, Konshens and Barrington Levy,” said Mushin.

“It’s Jamaica’s 55th year of Independence, so we want to make it extra special and memorable for our patrons. With the theme ‘Celebrating Jamaica 55′, performances will be focused on various factors of Jamaican heritage and traditions,’ said Cultural Stage Coordinator Bridget Edwards.

Performers billed for the cultural stage include singer Yoncia; Brooklyn-based Caribbean hip-hop artiste Dylan; Kinetic Afrique, a Queens-based performing arts dance company; comedian and storyteller Owen “Blakka” Ellis; and Lion Palm Twinnz.

— Kevin Jackson