To celebrate Jamaica Independence, “Festival Season” was developed as the time of year to display and appreciate Jamaica’s culture.

Throughout the years, Festival has been fine-tuned, and a popular song by Toots and the Maytals—“What a Bam Bam,” which won the Festival song competition in 1966—is just one of the many songs which were written to describe what Festival means to Jamaicans.

In 1955, a three-hour-long parade was developed by one of Jamaica’s great theatrical performers, Eric Coverley. The Festival was further developed in 1962, the year of Jamaica’s independence, and has since highlighted the best in Jamaican dance, drama, song, and food.

Today, our Jamaican Festival features “Things Jamaican,” which involves Jamaican creativity and aims to raise cultural awareness.

It includes the popular Festival song competition and parish eliminations in various creative art forms.

Edward Seaga, a former Prime Minister, stated that “the intention of the Festival celebrations was to expose the unique, natural, creative talents which belong to our people.” As testament to his words, current Festival events include art and photography, crafts, literary arts, the National Mento Band competition, as well as the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Contest, among others.

The best of the Festival of the Performing Arts (dance, speech, drama, and music) is showcased in the Jamaica Cultural Development Committee’s (JCDC’s) annual “Mello Go Round.”

The JCDC also presents an annual exposition of art, craft, traditional music, dance, games, and food at the National Mento Yard, and the Festival itself happens at the National Stadium and attracts Jamaicans from all parishes as well as visitors to the island.

If you are looking to see and sample Jamaica's culture up close and personal? The time to be in Jamaica is August 1-7 every year. Celebrate Emancipation Day and continue through to Independence Day.

About the Author

You can learn much more about Jamaica's Emancipation and Independence Celebrations and other events. Go here http://budgetjamaicavacation.com/

Maureen Wright-Evans is the owner and operator of Smokey Manor House, She also specializes in packages to see Authentic Jamaica.