Soca, reggae to combine on Florida stage

The likes of Maxi Priest, Ky-Mani Marley, Kevin Lyttle, Alison Hinds, and Shurwayne Winchester are set to provide the musical thrills at this year's staging of the Caribbean Village Festival, which will take place at the Lauderhill Sports Complex in Lauderhill, Florida, between June 22 and 24.

Lindell Douglas, the promoter of the event, said that the show is like a yearly celebration.

"Caribbean American Heritage Month (CAHM) has developed into a massive celebration over the years. We saw a need in our community to increase the visibility and awareness of CAHM, and then came Caribbean Village Festival," said Douglas.

"We have evolved into being one of the largest festivals of its kind held in June each year.

This is the fourth staging of the festival. This year, Publix, one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States, has partnered with the promoters to provide a one-of-a-kind experience to patrons.

SHARE CULTURE

"Publix has come on board as a sponsor, allowing us to share the culture with their customers. They're allowing us to have 12 in-store pop-ups across South Florida, featuring various elements from Caribbean Village," said Douglas, who is originally from Jamaica.

"Last year, our cooking demo theme was ackee. This year, it will be the jackfruit. Our chefs will demonstrate different ways to cook with the fruit to create a unique experience for patrons' palates. They can also expect more entertainment and a fun-filled day dedicated to the Caribbean."

The main show will culminate on June 24 with the headlining acts as well as supporting acts such as Bahamian singer Julien Believe and Haitian performer Mika Ben. Majah Hype will host the event.