The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will stage the inaugural Western Gala on Independence Day, Tuesday, August 6, at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Montego Bay, St. James.
The Gala and a fireworks show will climax activities in the week-long Independence Village, which will be held at the same venue beginning Emancipation Day, Thursday, August 1.
Portfolio Minister, Olivia Grange, said while the scale of western Jamaica’s Independence Village and Gala will be comparatively smaller, the format will be similar to those being held in Kingston over the same period.
The Minister emphasised the importance of staging the events in western Jamaica, adding that she anticipates these “will grow from strength to strength”.
Meanwhile, Ms. Grange said the theme for this year’s festival celebrations, “speaks to the great strides that the country has made as a nation, with people from diverse roots working together to create the Jamaica that we have today”.
She also noted that the festival fashion theme focuses on “roots and culture”
