THE OCHO RIOS SEAFOOD FESTIVAL HAS NEW PLACE AND TIME!

The Ocho Rios Seafood Festival, held for the past five years at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)-owned Turtle River Park, has moved.

The event will now be held at the nearby Ocho Rios Cruise Pier under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

“We were originally slated for August 5 but had to be postponed due to rain associated with Tropical Storm Ernesto,” explained the festival’s marketing director, Camille Miller.

“It will be a seafood festival by the ocean this time around. We have had a long run by the nearby Turtle River Park and feel the time is right to bring the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival to a more intimate and personable setting.”

Miller said organisers were grateful to the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, particularly to State Minister Ian Hayles, for its support.

“Minister Hayles did not hesitate in committing the ministry’s support for our rescheduling effort,” Miller said.

“He has a particular vision for the fishing industry and sees the Ocho Rios Seafood Festival as an important vehicle to assist in promoting the cause.”

Miller added that there would be many more activities for the October 14 show, noting that organisers would be working closely with schools and the St Ann business community.

“This is a community event, and the idea here is to get as many local entities involved as possible,” she said.

“Already, we have met with the board of directors of the St Ann Chamber of Commerce and also with a number of schools in and around St Ann. We will be having a school and celebrity cook-off as well as a Little Seafood Prince and Princess competition.”

She added: “In terms of networking, there is no better partner to have than the St Ann Chamber of Commerce.

“We also will be engaging two local charities in the form of the Jamaica Cancer Society and the St Ann Infirmary and will make donations to both entities following the event.”

Miller said the entertainment section would again be headlined by rising dancehall sensation Tommy Lee and would have “a little of everything for everybody”.

“We can promise that this will be a first-class family-oriented event,” she said. “This is the signature event for the parish of St Ann, and we will not disappoint. It will be a magical day at the Ocho Rios Cruise Pier on October 14.”