An elevated look and feel is what the organisers of the annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival (South Florida) are promising patrons attending this year’s event.

The 22nd staging of the signature event returns on Sunday, November 10 from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm at a new location inside the Miramar Regional Park.

Eddy Edwards, managing partner and chief executive officer of the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, shared details about this year’s staging.

“This year we have worked with our title sponsor Grace Foods and associate sponsor Publix to elevate the look and feel of the festival to deliver an even more enjoyable experience for our guests. The festival grounds have been expanded and there will be more interactive activities for the guests. The activities on the Publix Culinary Stage include an Influencer Challenge (a new addition to the festival) where Cheyanne Rodney will compete against Monica Gonzales,” he said. “This Food Fight will be a lot of fun, and the ladies are taking this contest very seriously. While the activities are taking place on the Publix Culinary Stage, there will be cultural presentations on the main stage with Christopher “Johnny” Daley hosting as well as a guest appearance by Delcita. This allows for guests to now have options with entertainment early in day, as they roam around and enjoy the offerings by sponsors, corporate exhibitors and the expanded food court.”

“The festival’s focus has always been on providing a wholesome event for the family. Asked how he and his team have been able to maintain this aspect,” Edwards continued. “The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival is a family event and as such we ensure that the entertainment aligns with the values of our sponsors as well as those of our organisation.  We carefully select the performers and ensure that they will respect our audience and deliver a family-friendly presentation. Our programs are designed for something for every member of the family, from the kids to grandparents. Another major factor is the price of admission to the event, we do our very best to make the festival very affordable, knowing that families attend together and that can be a deterrent if our prices are too high.  The value of what we offer against the cost of admission to the festival is a bargain.”

Several food vendors will offer a variety of jerk dishes this year.

“We will have over 30 food vendors offering a variety of jerk dishes plus other delicious cuisine. There are also novelty vendors with custom made fashion wear as well as creative island themed shirts and other accessories,” Edwards revealed.

Edwards added, “This year, patrons should come to expect more entertainment, more giveaways from sponsors and come to have an amazingly good time. We are elevating the whole festival experience from the look and feel of the buildout to a variety of food and entertainment options.”

Edwards also shared some of the challenges of hosting the event.

“Over the years we have had several challenges, weather being the most difficult and unpredictable. The coordination of such a massive event comes with several challenges, but our team has always been up to overcoming those challenges without affecting the experience of our guests,” he shared.

Edwards said that the festival’s appeal across demographics has helped to keep the event going through the years.

“As a food centric event, the festival has a broad appeal that crosses racial and cultural boundaries. The festival provides a shared experience for the diverse South Florida community, and it also continues to be one of the most anticipated event on the South Florida entertainment calendar not only for the Jamaican and Caribbean community, but the appeal also extends into the general mainstream population, attracting from the diverse populations. Support from corporate giants such as Grace Foods, Publix Supermarkets and the Greater Ft Lauderdale Visitors and Conventions Bureau, The City of Miramar as well as our media sponsors such as NBC6 and Cox Media Group give the festival strong validation,” Edwards disclosed.