Every year local and international foodies flock the island to get a taste of traditional and modern flair in Jamaican cuisine at culinary events. Listed among those sought after epicurean calendar activities is Rainforest Seafood and Music Festival, which this year, is Ash Wednesday, April 26^th at Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay, St. James. As Jamaica is a country with deep Christian roots, Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of lent and traditionally most locals change their diet to include more seafood with less meat and poultry for forty days and forty nights. The Rainforest Seafood and Music Festival is the perfect Jamaican way to reign in the lent weeks!

 Rainforest Seafoods, a local wholesaler of fish and an array of other aquatic delicacies, hosts this event yearly alongside a few other sponsors with proceeds 100% in aid of Cornwall Regional Hospital’s development. Over the last 5 years they have raised approximately 30 million dollars for the hospital as they seek to improve their facilities to cater to the entire western county; this year they hope to be able to contribute another 10 million to the hospital.

Hosted by Jamaica’s vibes masters of ceremonies, Miss Kitty and Dufton, the Catherine Hall Stadium will come alive at midday to start off Ash Wednesday in true Jamaican style with performances from local artistes such as Marion Hall, Ding Dong, Sasco, Romain Virgo and Stylo G – just to name a few! While the featured artistes entertain with music, patrons get to dive fork first into the best seafood dishes from various food trucks and food carts from all over the island. Patrons can expect booths from Scotchies, Sharkies, Rainforest themselves, Little Ochi as well as the Middle Quarters’ Shrimp Village, a parish favourite from St. Elizabeth.

Rainforest Seafood and Music Festival partnered with other local sponsors such as Jamaica Observer that will be distributing their popular seasonal cookbooks and hosting a cook-off during the event, National Baking Company that will be providing a Kiddie Village for all children attending the event, and Red Stripe and Heineken will enhance the culinary experience by providing a bar to supply all patrons with a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to accent the epicurean activities of the day.

This festival that will be bringing local and international flair straight to the plates of patrons at an admission cost of $1500 JMD for adults and $500 JMD for children presold and at the gate $2000 JMD for adults. There is a family bundle option for $3500 JMD that covers two adults and two children and lastly, VIP access for children is $2000 JMD and adults $5500 JMD.

The Rainforest Seafoods We Care Foundation will accept all other donations to the Cornwall Regional Hospital through for those who can’t attend but are interested in contributing.

To all foodies, fermented beverage lovers, music fans, visitors and locals of the island, this event is not one to miss as Rainforest Seafood and Music Festival will be a memorable experience for all patrons and promises to make a world of a difference for the Cornwall Regional Hospital and its surrounding communities.