One of Jamaica’s first free villages, August Town will stage their second annual Emancipation Day Celebrations today, under the theme, ‘August Town Arise’.

The all-day fair takes place in the African Gardens Square starting at 11 am, and will feature cultural performances and display booths showcasing items ranging from craft items to agricultural produce. The day will culminate in a fashion show and concert.

The event is spearheaded by the African Gardens Land Development Limited in partnership with the Greater August Town Community Development Council (CDC), the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) of the Ministry of National Security, University of the West Indies, University of Technology and the Social Development Commission (SDC).

CSJP Community Action Officer, Angella Harris explained that the overall aim of the event is to increase the awareness of the cultural and historical background of August Town, while bringing together residents from the different districts.

She said the day’s activities will be managed and monitored by youth from the different community-based organisations from the community.

August Town is over 170 years old and was once known as Africa Hill, until it was renamed August Town by the free villagers to note the important date of Emancipation.

The first annual Emancipation Day celebrations last year August 1, featured some 12 stalls showcasing pastry and food items, including roast breadfruit, peanut cakes, drops, festivals, fried fish, fried chicken, cakes and soups; clothing exhibits of crocheted and fabric beach wear, aprons, caps, doilies, handcrafted floral arrangements and a cosmetology booth; an array of locally produced wines in a variety of flavours.

The first fair was viewed as first as the first of many small steps towards renewing peace and hope in the once volatile community.

The CSJP, which provides cultural development services as a creative outlet for securing attitudinal and behavioural change, is a crime prevention initiative of the Ministry of National Security funded by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). The Programme provides a menu of services such as life skills and vocational skills training, cultural development, parenting education and community development to 27 volatile and vulnerable communities in the Kingston Metropolitan Area, St James and Westmoreland.