Cue the guitars, steel drums, and maracas and fire up the BBQs for the jerk chicken. Zwick’s Park and the Downtown District will become reminiscent of tropical islands this weekend as the third annual Belleville Caribbean Festival gets underway Friday night.
Saturday the Grande Parade will leave Zwick’s Park at 1 p.m. and make its way into the downtown area.
Downtown itself will be filled with entertainment, food, and specialty vendors all day Saturday and much of Sunday.
Jennifer Hirlehey is one of the festival’s organizers.
“You’ll get really good food, really good music, lots of performances and beautiful costumes. Come down, there’s lots of parking, there’s lots of food, the vendors are there but also the community businesses, we want the downtown community to be flourishing.”
Event Highlights:
Live performances: Friday night at Zwick’s Park between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. On Saturday on Front Street between two stages (one across from City Hall and one on the corner of Bridge Street and Front Street) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday in Market Square from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. A lineup of talented artists and performers will take the stage delivering electrifying performances of reggae, soca, calypso, and more.
Delicious cuisine: Attendees can indulge in a variety of Caribbean dishes from jerk chicken and roti to fresh tropical fruits and refreshing beverages each of the three festival days.
Grande Parade: Starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, a spectacular parade featuring traditional Caribbean costumes, music, and dance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean islands leaves Zwick’s Park and ends on Front Street.
Variety of vendors: Downtown Belleville businesses will be vending as well as hosting sales and special Caribbean-themed offers in store and in restaurants. The Side Hustle Market is returning with a variety of vendors as well as many different vendors from the community.
Event Details:
Date: August 16 – 18, 2024
Location: Zwick’s Park on Friday. Downtown on Saturday, and Market Square on Sunday.
Admission: FREE
