Dance, fete, eat, enjoy is a fitting mantra for Caribbean Cultural Fest. 2019 presented by Virgin Islanders United Inc. This exciting, annual, outdoor Caribbean mega-concert, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The free event spotlights the rich music, food and culture of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. Caribbean Cultural Fest is the largest annual celebration of U.S.V.I. culture and pride in North America and is also a mecca of eastern Caribbean music.
The event will take place from 2-7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, in Jackie Robinson Park, located at 85 Bradhurst Avenue on 145th Street in Harlem, NYC. Caribbean Cultural Fest. 2019 is proudly sponsored by: U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and WSTA Radio (1340 a.m.), and NYC sponsors: Virgin Islanders United Inc., Teddy Volkswagen, Best Deal Car Service, McCall’s Bronxwood Funeral Home, B.J.’s Wholesale Club, The Avril Show (93.5 F.M.) and Rodman and Campbell PC Attorneys at Law.
The fest will pay homage to classic calypso, reggae and soca music. Janet Parris, president of Virgin Islanders United Inc., said, “We want all fans of great Caribbean music to come and visit our show in Harlem to get a taste of the music, food, and culture of the Caribbean and the V.I., and then immediately make plans to visit St. Croix for the Crucian Festival, and enjoy Carnival and the Christmas holidays in St. Croix.”
Caribbean Cultural Fest. 2019 will take fans down nostalgia road and straight up hit maker avenue, presenting classic calypso, and today’s hit soca music featuring earth shaking performances from: Caribbean Queen – 7X Calypso Queen (USVI), Legendary Calypso Icon – Explainer (Trinidad/Tobago), Ebony T (Antigua/Barbuda), Island Prince (Antigua/Barbuda), Antiguan Soca Sensation – Laurena Davis & TKO (Antigua/Barbuda), VI Soca Star – Adam O (USVI), Nikki Smith (VI), USVI Soca Songstress – Rudy Live! (USVI)), and Festival Headliners – 9X USVI Road March Champions — The Awesome Spectrum Band (USVI), plus several additional surprise musical guests.
The event will be hosted by Kevin Hughes, U.S.V.I. media personality, and past president and co-founder of Virgin Islanders United Inc., and co-hosted by Avril Francis, N.Y. Caribbean radio personality and host of 93.5 FM’s “The Avril Show.” This year for the first time, it will be streamed on the V.I. Consortium (www.viconsortium.com ), broadcast “live” on radio in the U.S.V.I. via WSTA radio (1340 am), and on the internet at www.1340wsta.com.
Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, along with representatives from the Department, and other Virgin Islands officials, will be on hand at the festival actively pitching to the thousands of attendees present that the U.S.V.I. is open for business, and that St. Croix in particular is the perfect next destination to visit.
Hughes said. “Our show is designed to provide a showcase for world-class Caribbean acts, and to also get event attendees interested in visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands, where we warmly welcome all visitors to St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island.”
Virgin Islanders United Inc. was founded in 1999, and is a New York based, non-profit, non-partisan, civic organization dedicated to representing the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Interested persons seeking vendor information for Caribbean Cultural Fest. 2019 or for information regarding membership in Virgin Islanders United Inc., should call (845) 670-7695 or visit VIU on Facebook.
