Jerk Food Festival coming to Jacksonville

Event at Metropolitan Park benefits charity

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There's an event coming up downtown next Sunday that's sure to make your mouth water! It's called the Jerk Food Festival. You can come enjoy a taste of the Caribbean with a wide variety of vendors. There will also be arts and crafts for the kids as well as free live music. Best of all this event is being held to raise money for charity.

The event will be held at Metropolitan Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on September 1st.

It's the first Jacksonville Food Fest and organizer Ian Walker says its an event that takes place all over Florida and the country and is long overdue in Jacksonville.

"We are becoming more and more diverse," Walker believes. "Every day we are becoming more and more diverse. More people are coming from all over the world. And as more people come in the love for jerk becomes more and more there."

The festival will feature food from several local restaurants Irie Caribean Cafe. Owner Chef Irie says he is happy to be a part of the festival and hopes it will give him a chance to promote his restaurant.

"I'm trying to uplift the Caribbean food a little bit," says Chef Irie. "This is a good experience for anyone who hasn't tried Jamaican food or Caribbean food come on out and try it."

Admission is free to the Jerk Food Fest if you bring a non-perishable food item or you can donate $5 to charity.

For more information on the Jacksonville Jerk Food Fest head to their website, jaxjerkfoodfest.com.