Eat, Drink and Be Irie at Vermont JerkFest, Vermont’s 2nd annual jerk food festival. Celebrating food, culture and all things spicy and hot, this Caribbean-style foodie festival features local Jamaican jerk hot-spiced food and entertainment for the whole family. Vermont JerkFest is bringing the heat to Brattleboro’s cool mountains.  This year’s festival will feature international Reggae artist Everton Blender, a traditional roots-reggae artist, songwriter, composer and producer. Other featured artists include Teflon, and Crucial Fiya Reggae Band, as well as local and regional bands. 

Vermont JerkFest features local reggae bands, Caribbean chefs, authentic Caribbean, jerk-style meals, and international and local spicy foods. There will also be specialty foods such as spicy jams, hot sauces, Caribbean-themed desserts, and traditional, homemade Caribbean drinks for sale. Of course, we can’t have a Caribbean food festival without coconuts, so there will be plenty on hand for sale!

“We are thrilled that the Festival has moved to Brattleboro. It’s a perfect place for the intersection of art, food and culture. We’re looking forward to a spicy weekend,” said Orly Munzing, Executive Director of Strolling of the Heifers, a Festival community partner and sponsor. 

The weekend kicks off with a Rum & Brew Tasting at Vermont JerkFest on Friday night, August 5, 2016, 7 pm-10 pm at the River Garden, 157 Main Street, Brattleboro so that festival goers will have two days of spicy fun in the sun. The Rum & Brew Tasting will feature a variety of Caribbean themed libations, including tastings of local and international spirits, artisan beverages, and plenty of rum to go around as well as sampling of Caribbean food, and local specialty products. DJ Natty Cool will be accompanied by live Caribbean music that will be sure to will keep patrons moving and grooving. Festival goers will try tasty Caribbean food by Caterer KTW featuring, DJ-Ras Skillz (Chef Mills), the four-time Boston JerkFest Champ.

The spicy festivities continue with the food festival on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the Vermont Agricultural and Business Center (VABEC) in Brattleboro, Vermont, from 11 am-7 pm where international and local reggae music artists will jam with the crowds to the cool backdrop of the mountains. Everton Blender, one of this year’s featured artists, is an award-winning reggae musician known for having successfully blended reggae values with modern style. His most famous hit is "Lift up Your Head". Vermont JerkFest is also welcoming Teflon to the Festival, a dancehall and reggae music artist, who is known for the reggae, hit "Harder".  These are performances you will not want to miss!

Healthy and local food is pretty important to us, so Vermont JerkFest is proud to have Chef Mills with us as he vies for the Vermont JerkFest Jerk Cook-off Champ title. Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Chef Mills was raised with an appreciation for local and fresh produce, herbs and spices, farm raised meats, and wild caught fish and seafood. Today Chef Mills incorporates these culinary values as part of KWT Catering, a catering business that believes food should be nutritious as well affordable.

Here is what to experience at the Saturday food festival:

• Jerk dishes prepared by local and regional restaurants, food trucks, and street vendors
• Live music, including an international reggae headline performer and regional musicians
• Steel band performances
• Spice Lane showcasing local specialty products, including hot sauces and desserts
• Jerk Cook-Off competition
• Chef Demos featuring jerk and highlighting local food
• Kids & Culture Zone with hands-on interactive activities

ABOUT VERMONT JERKFEST

Vermont JerkFest is produced by Cambridge based, marketing firm The Williams Agency that specializes in sustainable food and culture. All vendors are encourages to source locally as Vermont JerkFest will highlight local and regional spicy specialty foods made in Vermont and New England. The Festival is also a zero-waste event with minimal waste to the environment. Vermont JerkFest is presented by The Williams Agency and sponsored by Visit Jamaica, Strolling of the Heifers, Vermont Agricultural and Business Center, Windham Regional Career Center, Vermont Chevon, Localvore Today.com, New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery, Mount Gay Rum, Red Stripe Beer and Boston JerkFest^TM.

For tickets and more information, please visit vermontjerkfest.com, or connect via Facebook Vermont JerkFest, Twitter: @vermontjerkfest or Instagram @vermontjerkfest or call 617-395-7680. 

For media, contact Nicola Williams, The Williams Agency 857-204-6108 (cell) 617-395-7680 (office), nicola@thewilliamsagency.net