Events in Jamaica, January to August
1 New Years Day Public Holiday
4-6 273rd Annual Accompong Maroon Festival, Accompong Maroons celebration in St Elizabeth in Western Jamaica. The Maroons are the descendants of runaway slaves from various plantations in Jamaica. The festival features dancing, singing, feast and ceremonies.
Jamaica’s National Hero Queen Nanny, Chief of The Windward Maroons resting Place
18 20th Annual Rebel Salute Port Kaiser Sports Club in St Elizabeth Jamaican. This premier Rasta-Centric roots reggae festival serves no alcohol and no meat. There are lots of smoking and great reggae music.
24-26 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Greenfield, Trelawny. This high-caliber concert with high caliber musicians brings the house down for the annual week-long festival of R&B, Jazz, Blues, Reggae, Latin and other music types.
27 TBC 29th Annual JSP High Mountain Coffee
10 K & 5 K Road Race Mandeville, Manchester A challenging and extremely popular race, starting at the overhead bridge in Williamsfield. [High Mtn 10K]
February 2013
Bob Marley Birthday Celebrations
3-6 Bob Marley Birthday Celebrations. This event offers Island wide stage shows, exhibitions and other events in various locations around the island. Jamaica and Jamaican celebrate the birthday of the reggae giant, the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley
13 Ash Wednesday Public Holiday
13 57th Annual Hague Agricultural Show. The farmers of Hague, Trelawny gets an opportunity to showcase their produce.
TBA Jamaica Carnival which takes place island wide throughout the season. As you go around the Island, you will hear Reggae and Soca Music. The carnival offers a true Caribbean flavor with an atmosphere that’s electric.
TBA Jamaica Fatta Tyre Biking Festival in St Mary on the North Coast. This weeklong mountain bike extravaganza highlights Jamaica’s unique yet vibrant culture. The trails are challenging scenic trails.
17 TBC Fi-Wi-Sinting Somerset Falls Celebration. Jamaica’s rich African Heritage Annual Celebration in Hope Bay, Portland. The African History Month celebration event in Jamaica is considered the largest of its kind with Art and Craft marketplace, great food with traditional music and dance performance.
March 2013
Elasha Spring Fest in Negril
TBA Elasha Spring Fest in Negril, Westmoreland. A Week-long celebration with concert events across Negril. At these celebrations, there will be a festival where people will be dancing and having a jolly good time. The Elasha Spring Fest has been dubbed “The ultimate spring break experience.” There will be performances from local and international gospel artists.
23-24 Jamaica Orchid Society Show in Jamaica Horticultural Society’s Exhibition Hall, Gibson Drive, Hope Pastures, Kingston. This show offers a magnificent array of exotic orchids in various shapes, sizes and colors. This annual event is organized by the Jamaica Orchid Society to display the variety of orchard and to celebrate their beauty. The orchid show is judge for winners.
27 6th Annual Portland Curry Festival in Acompong Beach, Port Antonio, Portland. This curry festival is an all-day family event featuring our famous authentic curried chicken, goat, shrimp, lobster and fish. The entertainment features multiple reggae artists.
27 Montego Bay Yacht Club Easter Regatta Montego Bay. The Montego Bay Yacht Club in Montego Bay, St James presents their fun cruises and exciting yacht races. Come one and all to celebrate and be prepared to join the races or watch from the harbor.
29 Good Friday Public Holiday
April 2013
Kite Flying
1 Easter Monday Public Holiday
Jamaica International kite festival
April 1st Jamaica International kite festival. Seville Heritage Park Priority, St. Ann A family celebration for over 10 years
April 1st St. Elizabeth Horticultural Society Annual Flower Show at Independence Park, Black River, St Elizabeth. A popular flower shows with beautiful displays on sale. Enjoy live steel band and marching band with lots of fun activities for kids.
April 1st Montpelier Agricultural Show at Montpelier Show Grounds, St James. The show offers farmers an opportunity to showcase their work. Come enjoy lots of entertainment at Kids Village. (Last year show was held 4/5/2010 – Easter Monday)
April 1st St Mary Agri-Expo Gray’s Inn Sports Complex, Annotto Bay, St Mary. This Argi-Expo show is the second largest agricultural show in Jamaica. The show features a Champion Farmers competition. (Last show was held 4/5/2010).
Jamaica Cricket Festival Greenfield Stadium
April 3rd -18th Jamaica Cricket Festival Greenfield Stadium in Falmouth, Trelawny. The National cricket teams, from Ireland to Canada and the West Indies, play against Jamaica at the annual Jamaica Cricket Festival. This event is played island wide and offers a great entertainment and competition for cricket lovers
April 13th St. Ann Agri-Expo, Addison Park Browns Town. Farmers competition and display on Agriculture and agro-processing and environmental practices.
April 20th Jake’s Treasure Beach Off-Road Triathlon. At Jake’s Treasure Beach in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. At this beach, lots of Jamaicans are known to be laid-back. This Off-Road Triathlon on Treasure Beach has changed the thinking of many people. It includes a grueling 500-meter swim a 25km mountain bike ride and a 7km country run. If that’s not enough, individuals and teams are participating in multiple events.
April 25th Trelawny Yam Festival in Albert Town Square, Trelawny. Trelawny is the home to Olympic 100- and 200-meter gold medal winner, Usain Bolt. The yam festival is an experience of a lifetime.
Westmoreland Curry Festival
April 29th Westmoreland Curry Festival at the Mannings School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. This event is considered the biggest annual curry food show in the Caribbean. This event attracts over 15,000 patrons. The festival cultural event display the history of Jamaica’s motto “Out of many, one people.” Come and enjoy good food and entertainment. (Westmoreland Curry Fest held on 4/29/12)
TBA Misty Bliss Holywell Recreation Area, Blue Mountains. Come celebrates the natural and cultural resources of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. This is a cultural festival featuring traditional Jamaican music, Maroon drummers, dance and authentic Jamaican foods such as jerk pork, crayfish rundown, roast yam, dukunno and chocolate tea. There is also a marketplace with fresh produce, craft items and tree seedlings, and activities for the kids.(Last year show was held Apr 25-26, 2012)
Blue Mountain Hills and Vallys
TBA Liguanea Festival of Fine Arts & Photography Liguanea Plaza, 134 Old Hope Road, Kingston Jamaica. This show is the largest outdoor exhibition of arts, featuring displays of photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry. (Last show was held 4/25/2010)
MAY 2013
Style Week in Kingston
1 Style Week in Kingston and around the island. New York London and Paris fashion designer move around Jamaica during Style Week. Caribbean styles are showcase in different shows around the island.
1 World Championship of Dominoes, Montego Convention Center. Individual from around the world come to Jamaica to for great competition.
23 Labour Day Public Holiday
23 Manchester Horticultural Society Flower Show Mandeville, Manchester. This horticultural society has met for 130 years and celebrates Spring with this well-respected flower show and competition.
TBA Reggae Film Festival Studio 38, Trafalgar Road, New Kingston. This show attracts productions from around the world with films that show aspects of Jamaican culture. The festival shows how Reggae music has impacted the world.
TBA** Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival at the Two Seasons Guest House, Taino Cove Guest House, Frenchman’s Reef Restaurant, Jack Sprat, Sunset Resort and Villas, Calabash House, Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. The Treasure Beach Breadbasket Festival replaces the Calabash International Literary Festival that ran from 2001-2010, offering cultural, culinary, musical, literary and visual art events at various locations.
TBA Calabash Literary Festival Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth. This is a three-day festival of readings and music and storytelling. Calabash is earthy, inspirational, daring and diverse. It’s the only annual international literary festival in the English-speaking Caribbean. All festival events are free and open to the public. [Last year held May 27, 2012]
June 2013
Caribbean Fashion Week National Indoor Sports Center
TBA Caribbean Fashion Week National Indoor Sports Center, Independence Park, Kingston. The largest and most recognized fashion event in the Caribbean. More than 10 shows which features more than 50 designers from 25 countries.
8 – 16 TBC 21st Annual Jamaica Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This show features internationally renowned performers from Jamaica and around the world.
TBA 5th Annual Maroon Quao Day Celebrations Asafu Yard, Charles Town, Portland, Jamaica. Experience cultural performances in Maroon tradition. The celebration includes dancing, drumming, singing, poetry and storytelling. Come and experience the Maroons cultural attraction along with food and beverage, arts and crafts and river bathing at Quao Village. Enjoy Asafu Museum tour and more. [Last show was held June 24, 2012]
I remember as a teenager I went to the celebration in Accompong Town and it left a lasting impression on me, to such extent that I wrote a paper on this in my for one of my classes when I was doing my undergrad. I have always wanted to go back there but never got the opportunity again. Thanks for writing about this as it has ignited my desire to go again… I may very well do that !.. Great
Thanks Velma for sharing your first hand experience about Accompong Town. In fact, I wrote an article title “Jamaica History.” The article can be found in “Jamaica Culture” option. The article highlights detail information about the Maroons in Jamaica along with their accomplishments. Please visit often for updated information.
Will be visiting Jamaica early Apeil from a cruise ship. Would love to experience Steel drum music. Can you suggest some place we might visit for steel drum music form 4/4 8 am to 5pm. A y restaurants you can suggest for Jamaican chicken jerk? Tha k you.
Nell, Thx for the visit. What port in Jamaica will your ship dock? (Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Montego Bay…? While Jamaica is the king of Reggae music, steel pan/ steel drum are played on occasion mostly in the tourist areas. So let me know the Port!
We are trying to plan our trip to Treasure Beach and want to go to the Bread Basket Festival or the literary fest this year. Any idea if it is May 24-26 or May 31-June 2? Thank you!
As far as we are hearing from the Treasure Beach Staff, The Bread Basket Festival is cancel this year. Thanks for allowing AJamaica Experience to serve you. Please visit often. Lets us know if you need any recommendations.
Do you have any more details on the cricket festival in April? We would like to watch some matches….
Hi Catherine, The matches are from April 3rd – 18th 2013 at The Greenfield Stadium. So, far there are no announcement on broad-casting on Radio or Cable. Once I find out more information, I will keep you posted. Thanks for visiting the site.
I am very interested in the Kite festival only to be told it was Friday March 29th and not Easter Monday. Now I have nothing plan to do today with my son. He is so disappointed.