A FESTIVAL will transform Vigo Park into a world of Caribbean food and music, inspired by Notting Hill Carnival at the end of the month.
Barbecue battles, stiltwalkers, DJs and more will turn Andover's Vigo Park into a colourful, and delicious, day out for the family, as the summer holidays come to a close.
As previously reported, the free-to-attend Jerk Jam Festival will be held on Saturday, August 31, and will bring "multicultural flair" to the town.
The event, which is planned to be a "mini version" of Jerk Jam - a music and Caribbean food inspired festival which has recently been held in Southampton - will run from 11am to 10pm.
READ MORE: 'Mini version' of festival celebrating Caribbean food and music coming to Andover
A spokesperson for the event said: "From humble backyard beginnings, a group of DJs and music fans with an obsession for all things Notting Hill carnival went about hosting a yearly Barbecue competition for friends and family which soon evolved through popularity and word of mouth into a fully-fledged music festival.
"The Jerk Jam ran for five years on a site in Fareham at which they forged a solid reputation amongst festival goers as the go-to family event of the Summer.
"They have previously been nominated for best grassroots and best boutique UK festival awards.
"The event centres around the Barbecue Battle. A unique Barbecue competition that takes place in a large purpose-built boxing ring sporting authentic jerk pans, sound system, DJs and MCs, in which chefs battle it out to take home the title of champ.
"There are an additional 2 visually stunning music stages constructed by the team themselves which have been graced by an eclectic mix of local and international artists and DJs from the worlds of Reggae, Soul, Funk, House, Hip Hop and folk. The likes of Aswad, Omar, Shola Ama, Norman Jay MBE, Grooverider, Dawn Penn, General Levy, Kevin Rowland Altern-8 and many many more have all performed there.
"The mission of the festival is to provide a safe, inclusive, reasonably priced truly creative space in which families can enjoy the vibrant multicultural flair and fun of the South Coast and Hampshire."
Speaking previously at a council meeting, when Jerk Jam was given the go-ahead by Andover Town Council, Will Constance, head of Illusion Events, one of the companies responsible for the event, said: "I'm trying to bring something to Andover which is specifically for the age ranges of 16 to 30, young families, for free.
"It's got music, stilt walkers, entertainers, fire performers, a dedicated area for young children, [and] it's going to be fully fenced off so it's secure.
"The whole point of this is for the inner suburbs of Andover to come to something that isn't a gardening fair or an artisan market, something that the 16 to 25 to 30-year-old age range wouldn't want to necessarily go to.
"This is an actual festival that they would want to go to that's free and right at the end of the summer holidays because they've spent all their money in the summer holidays, they want something to do and they don't necessarily want to go away - why not have something like this on the doorstep?"
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