Experience a cultural affair at the Cocktails and Jerk Festival at Root 107. Watch live entertainment, learn how to salsa, eat jerk and sip cocktails while taking in the fun party atmosphere.
“What I’m trying to do is bring together different elements that a broad group of people will enjoy,” says Dewayne Taylor, organizer of the festival. “The number one thing is that the location was deliberate because I wanted a central location where everybody comes together.”
Taylor chose a variety of diverse performers that will have the crowd grooving and moving, such as the TrinCan Steel Orchestra, Melafrique band and dancing and fire breathing from CaribFlaymz. Local food trucks will serve up jerk-themed foods like jerk tacos and Trinidad jerk chicken. Bartenders from Ultimate Bartending School will also be on scene serving cocktails and mocktails. There will always be something new served up with a revolving menu of feature cocktails switching up every two hours.
Taylor’s main goal for the Caribbean festival is to make it an inclusive event for many people to enjoy.
“The event is basically a tropical staycation for one day in Edmonton,” says Taylor. “I hope people go into Labour Day thinking, ‘Whoa, I had a great day yesterday. That was different and that was entertaining. You know, I learned something about these people that I didn’t know before.’”
The Cocktails and Jerk Festival is on September 5 at Root 107, located on 107 Street and Jasper Avenue. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the free festival ends at 9 p.m.
