Reggae Festival: Island festival poster with colorful rastaman in a round frame at the center, small green/yellow/red floating banner beneath, a pair of yellow and green palm trees on each side and, in a red floating banner below all this are the words Island Kalamazoo Festival

What makes Kalamazoo a cool city and great weekend destination?  Events like the Island Festival!  Escape from day-to-day routine and kick off summer with entertainment for all ages. From its humble beginnings, the Island Festival has grown to be the largest celebration of Caribbean Culture in Michigan.  Also known as “A Taste of the Caribbean”, the Island Festival brings the unique cuisine of the Islands to Kalamazoo!   

Entering its 14th year, the Island Festival has expanded to three days, and is slated for Thursday, Friday and Saturday June 18-20 at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place at the corner of Kalamazoo Ave. and Edwards in downtown Kalamazoo, MI.  The Island Festival is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Jaycees 

 

The festival begins at 11:00am each day with regional vendors selling Caribbean cuisine and beverages.  Walk through “little Jamaica” and experience the arts and crafts vendors selling items ranging from woodcarvings to handmade drums, t-shirts to jewelry and everything in between.  

The music and food are complimented with Caribbean style beverages and are all served until 12:30am Thursday and 1:30 am Friday and Saturday.  

This year’s entertainment line-up brings international talent to Kalamazoo with live entertainment thru out the festival. 

Saturday afternoon will feature family activities including face painting, storytelling, hair wraps, limbo and more.  Parents bring your kids down and enjoy the Family Workshop where we encourage everyone to get involved in the music!  See our website for details. 

Admission for those over 12 is $5.00 from 4-7pm each evening and $8.00 from 7 to close, making this event a great entertainment value. 

Beverages include ice-cold Red Stripe beer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade’s, and many flavored juices and liquors from Captain Morgan. Budweiser, Minute Maid Juice and Coke Products also available. 

Caribbean regional cuisine from Jerk Chicken to Mango Papaya Chutney, fresh oysters with Cajun sauces, steamed Crawfish, Coconut Shrimp, Black Bean, Veggie and Lou Lou Burgers, Chimichurri Pork, plus various breads and desserts will be served by area vendors including:  

Niskers, Q-it-Up, Jessie’s Jamaican Kitchen, Omoefe’s, TGI Friday’s, Old Burdicks,  Rasa Ria, Jamaican Dave’s, Mangia Mangia, GoJo Ethiopian Cuisine, Hot Spot Island Cuisine, Great Wall, Big Moe’s, Jammin Jerks, Food Affair, La Mexiciana and Sushiya.  

In addition, many vendors from across the region will be displaying their artwork, crafts and island wares, jewelry, clothing and more.  

The entertainment line up is better than ever and includes:

Thursday

Mystic Rebel

Indika Tribute to Doggy Ranks

Zion Lion Tribute to Nathan Ndjharine

Dread 1 Sound System 

Friday          

Ras Soul Jah           

Universal Expression

Iffcal

Pato Banton

Zareb

Dread 1 Sound System 

Saturday                                                          

DeHurricane

The Work Shop         

The Pocket Band

Taj Weeks and Adowa

Culture

Zion Lion

Dread 1 Sound System 

Please see our website for the complete line up and details at www.islandfestkalamazoo.com 

Come and enjoy the best of the Caribbean and the best of Kalamazoo on Thursday, Friday and Saturday June 18-20.  

High-resolution photos, artist biographies and more are available on our website at: http://www.islandfestkalamazoo.com or call us at 269-385-1276