Festival bringing taste of the Caribbean to Henrico
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The culture of the Caribbean, through food, music, clothing, art and performance, will be showcased at the Caribbean Heritage Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday, June 8, at Dorey Park in Varina.
Admission is free and the event is open to the public, and vendors will sell food and merchandise. All forms of payment will be accepted, but there is no ATM in the park.
The festival is organized by Adopt Haiti Project, a local non-profit founded in 2010 “to help create a community for Haitians in Richmond and the surrounding counties” after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, according to its website. The organization also hosts cultural programs and social events to educate people on Haiti.
It will be first Caribbean festival in the Richmond area, said Ruben Pierre-Louis, president of Adopt Haiti Project. Because the organization had not seen a festival catered to that community in the area, members thought such an event was needed, he said.
"The whole purpose of doing the festival is to highlight the 26 Caribbean nations," said Pierre-Louis, who said he was born in Haiti and moved to the U.S. at age 11.
June is National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
The event will feature multiple performances including performances from Haitian vocal artist Kelly, dance collective Claves Unidos, fitness-based organization Intense Fiyaaaa and renowned carnival masquerade organization Shortmus Productions, known for its performances at Caribbean carnivals.
Pierre-Louis said that attendees should expect to hear “great old-fashioned reggae music” and Haitian music as they walk in. Multiple giveaways will also take place.
“Bring your friends, bring your family, we do have a kids area,” Pierre-Louis said.
A focus of the festival is to bring Caribbean flavor, which Pierre-Louis had not seen served at a festival in the area before. There will be food trucks and multiple food vendors serving primarily various Caribbean foods.
Pierre-Louis is encouraging attendees to give feedback so that he can improve the event for next year.
Tyrone Nelson, the Varina District supervisor on the Henrico County Board of Supervisors; Edhilis Pouerie, Miss Puerto Rico United States 2019; and Lt. James Layne, a candidate for Henrico sheriff, will be in attendance.
