SOUTH FLORIDA – World & Olympic 100m and 200m Champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will kick off the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival’s “Jerk Week” activities with an appearance at the inaugural Hot Trot Jerk 5K Run/Walk on November 3, 2013 at 8:00 at Markham Park, Sunrise, Florida.
The race is one of the many activities slated for Jerk Week, which will culminate with the 12th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival at Markham Park on Sunday, November 10. The top male and female finisher will win a trip to Jamaica to participate in the 2013 Reggae Marathon in December. The Hot Trot Jerk 5K Run/Walk will also feature a Health & Wellness fair and will benefit Team Jamaica Bickle Inc., a non-profit organization that supports Caribbean athletes at the annual Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
This year, organizers have expanded activities for a week of events, which will also include a Jerk Cooking class at Publix Apron’s Cooking School in Plantation on Tuesday, November 5; promotions featuring sampling and ticket giveaways at the University of Miami on Wednesday, November 6; and a sizzling Friday night party dubbed “Inferno,” featuring DJs Nicco and Mixmaster Marvin from Jamaica’s FAME FM, at Grand Palms Hotel in Pembroke Pines.
The all-inclusive Rum, Wine and Jerk – A Taste of the Caribbean, set for Saturday, November 9 at Markham Park, promises to be an evening of elegance with an upscale appeal to satiate even the most discerning tastes. Patrons will feast on fine foods from the Caribbean’s top chefs and culinary personalities, as well as international celebrity chefs, as they sip on some of the world’s premier rums and wines. World renowned Jamaican Jazz pianist, Monty Alexander will take patrons on a musical journey like no other, making it a fitting final event before the big day.
On Sunday, November 10, the 12th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival will be jam-packed with food, family, friends, entertainment and activities patrons have grown to know and love. The Publix Jerk Cook-off will no doubt be a hit, as will the Grace Village. The event will include the popular Western Union Cultural Stage, Corporate Circle, and the Hot Zone dancehall party. As usual, the festival will come to an explosive close with sizzling entertainment on Main Stage featuring Morgan Heritage, the versatile Fab 5 band and songstress Etana, among others.
Details on activities are available at the festival’s website www.jerkfestival.com where participants can register for the 5k run as well as purchase tickets to any of the week’s activities. The 12th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival is presented by Publix and sponsored by Digicel, Western Union, The Jamaica Tourist Board, Dr. Charlie Ware’s Herbal Blends, National Weekly Newspaper, WAVS Radio, Hot 105, and VitaMalt. The event is produced by Jamaican Jerk Festival USA, Inc., in association with Jamaica Awareness, Inc.
