CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is bringing the sights, sounds and flavors of the Caribbean to South Florida this weekend with its second annual Taste of the Caribbean Festival.
“Because we showcase tropical plants and fruits, was to celebrate the regions that produce a lot of that. The best way for us to do that was to do a celebration of the Caribbean,” said Robert Soto, general manager of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
The festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tickets priced at $29 for adults and $11.95 for children. Admission is free for Fairchild members.
Visitors can sample dishes from across the Caribbean, including Jamaican beef patties, empanadas, jerk conch and fresh-cut fruits. Signature drinks, like the mango mojito, will also be available.
“We are excited to showcase many cultures and islands of the Caribbean at our festival. And they’re going to be doing that in many different ways,” said Soto. “Whether it’s showcasing the culinary delights from Jerk conch to other island favorites, to an island marketplace, where we’re going to be showcasing handmade wares from the different islands and cultures throughout the Caribbean.”
Music and performances add to the festive atmosphere, with Junkanoo — a Bahamian celebration of rhythm, energy and community — taking center stage.
“This is really just a taste. If you want to catch the real thing, you go over to the Bahamas. Nassau Bahamas, Boxing Day, which is the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day, that’s when we have our big festival,” said Rick Albury, owner of Junkanoo Riddims Entertainment.
“We use it as a celebration of freedom, just a celebration of life. If you want to let go, release the stress of everyday living, you can do Junkanoo with us,” he added.
The colorful costumes, which can take a week or two to create, will be on display.
“Yes, this is a larger headpiece, so it is pretty heavy. But as you can see we have different size headpieces,” Albury said. “We’re giving you a taste of Bahamian Junkanoo. Anytime we get a chance to share our culture with the world we absolutely jump on it.”
Festival-goers can also participate in dance lessons and other activities suitable for the whole family. Click here for more information.
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