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Photo: Donald De La Haye
Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right), and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Aubyn Hill (left), share a light moment with Owner, Paris Ruby Gourmet, Zelecia Smith, while visiting her booth during a previous staging of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival.
Two of Jamaica’s premier cultural events are converging for a first-of-its-kind collaboration this Saturday, March 7, at Hope Gardens. The Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival will join forces with the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival’s “Meet Street and the Market” to deliver a full-day gastronomic experience from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.
Director of the Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald Riley, described the partnership as an exciting milestone for festival-goers.
“The 2026 Coffee Festival is going to be different. It is where Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival meets ‘Meet Street and the Market.’ It’s two iconic events under one roof, costing you even far less,” Mrs. McDonald Riley said.
The collaboration comes after the November 2025 staging of Meet Street was postponed due to Hurricane Melissa. With the rescheduled date coinciding with the Coffee Festival, organisers decided to merge the events, creating a combined celebration of food, drink, and coffee culture.
“We had no challenge with it. We are drink, we are coffee; they are Meet Street. So, it is really food and drink – there goes the synergy,” Mrs. McDonald Riley added.
She assured that coffee enthusiasts will still enjoy the signature features of the Coffee Festival, including the Mixology Competition, Barista Competition, and interactive seminars. Patrons can also look forward to live entertainment from DJ Delano of Renaissance, the Charlestown Maroons, and Etana, along with family-friendly activities such as Kiddies Village and a Farmer’s Market.
More than 70 booths will showcase artisans, chefs, and coffee connoisseurs, offering festival-goers a rich, immersive experience.
“We want all our patrons to come out and enjoy two great festivals under one roof. It’s a whole day of activities. Come out, celebrate with us. It’s a family event,” Mrs. McDonald Riley said.
Jamaica Food and Drink Festival Director Alicia Bourges emphasised the natural fit of the collaboration, citing the festival’s decade-long legacy of culinary excellence.
“Meet Street and the Market is under the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival umbrella, a three-time recipient of the World Culinary Awards Caribbean’s Best Culinary Festival and winner of Best Food Festival at the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s inaugural Gastronomy Awards. We have been showcasing Jamaican culinary talent and bold flavours for a decade,” she said.
Ms. Bourges also highlighted the wider tourism impact of the joint event, noting that it attracts visitors from across Jamaica, the United States, and the Caribbean, positioning Kingston as a top destination city.
Tickets are priced at $1,500 and are available online via Touchstone Link
, the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival Instagram page, and at the gate. Parking is available at Hope Gardens, with additional spaces at King’s House and the University of Technology, Jamaica. Island Car Rentals will provide shuttle service for attendees.
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