Charleston Carifest Celebrates 10 years of Caribbean American Heritage Month
June 1, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – Charleston Carifest Caribbean Carnival will celebrate ten years of Caribbean American Heritage Month, June 11 – 14, with seven events over four days. The theme for this year’s Carnival is, One Caribbean. Our Caribbean dignitaries will include The Trinidad and Tobago Miami Consulate General Dr. Anil Ramnanan.
Thursday June 11, the Symposium and Opening Reception will be held in a new location at the College of Charleston North Campus, 3800 Paramount Drive, North Charleston and will start at 5:30 pm. The title of the presentation is “Celebrating Caribbean American Heritage Month: Staking claim on the American Dream.” The speaker will be Dr. Claire Nelson, futurist, sustainability engineer, social entrepreneur and White House Champion of Change.
Friday night is the first Glow Jouvert/ Caribbean Mardi Gras Party in Charleston at the International Longshoreman’s Association Hall with glow paint, costumes and live performances by Reggae and Soca Artists, D.J., Caribbean Food Truck, and beer and wine bar.
Carnival Day is Saturday, June 13 . The day starts with a Carnival Street Parade from Johns Street to King Street to Sumter to Fishburne into Brittle Bank Park.
The festival in Brittlebank Park will feature a Reggae Great, Jamaican International Recording Artist, Anthony Malvo directly from his performance at Best of the Best in Miami. Other artists include Champeon from Trinidad, and local Artist Gatorman, in addition to cultural dance, and other activities. Children under 12 are allowed in free of charge.
The Wear White Party follows at 787 Bar and Grill and is a fundraiser for the Children’s Steel Band Project.
The festivities end with the Caribbean church service at Grace UMC Church on Sam Rittenberg, featuring the CITA Steel Pan Ensemble.The general public is invited to celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month and embrace the Low Country connection to the Caribbean.
“People of Caribbean heritage continue to blaze a trail of excellence across the land and it is good to have a time to reflect on their achievements and contributions while educating the community on our Caribbean culture and ways that are important to us. It makes for better understanding and tolerance among people.” Says Lorna Shelton Beck, President of SCCCH.
For more information, go to www.Charlestoncarifest.com.
