Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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12 UCW JUNE 21-27, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM EVENTS e Caribbean American Connec- tion of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a nonprofit organization that started 10 years ago. It is known for the Carib- bean Festival it hosts every year. is year marks the seventh annual Caribbean Festival. e festival started in local recreation centers, but over the years it has grown rapidly. e event takes place in Festival Park on June 25, from noon to 8 p.m. e grounds will be filled with music, dancing and 21 vendors selling everything from food to mer- chandise. Most par- ticipants will be represent- ing Caribbean culture, but there will also be local groups participating. For example, there will be a mobile truck providing free dental screen- ings. Don't miss the Parade of Nations that will be taking place at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage in Festival Park. Another highlight of the festival every year is the musicians and artists. ere is a mix of local performers and performers brought in specifically for this event. Nina George, the organiza- tion's secretary, said this is her favorite part of the festival every year. "ere is music and dancing all day long. We have a live DJ who plays be- tween performances and is in charge of the mood for the entire festival. It is what the Caribbean is known for," George said. Even coordinator Sheron Baker, however, thinks the authentic food vendors are the best part. "We are a nonprofit designed to get Caribbean natives involved with their home islands while in the states," Bak- er said. "ere are a lot of Caribbean natives here in Fayetteville, especially because of Fort Bragg." e Caribbean American Con- nection of Fayetteville's charity work expresses the duality of identity that many members feel. ey do a lot of work to support the local community, but they also work to support the com- munities on their home Islands. According to George, they have reached out and continue to reach out to the Caribbean by supporting relief efforts after the Haiti Earthquake, adopting an elementary school and sending Christmas angel gifts every year. A lot of the work that the group does focuses on children. is is true of this family-friendly festival as well. "ere are lots of activi- ties for kids. We play games that we play in the Caribbean; some are simi- lar to what we play in the states like re- lay games and sack racing. We will give prizes after the games and this year we will have an arts and crafts project. Kids can make and then take home a flag as sort of a gift," George said. George believes that engaging chil- dren with events like this is vital. "Our group is a nonprofit, and we do a lot of social events to bring the culture here and allow children to experience their heritage," she said. While the organization is primarily focused on involving Caribbean na- tives, the festival and the group's other events are open to the entire community. Everyone is welcome to come learn about end enjoy Caribbean culture. For more information, call (910) 261-6910. Get a Taste of the Islands at the Caribbean Festival by ERINN CRIDER ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. This year marks the seventh annual Caribbean Festival.