Celebrating Island Culture at The Ave Caribbean Fest

Moko Jumbies, traditional stilt dancers, tower over crowds in colorful costumes. SANDRA YEYATI/ AVE MARIA SUN

On Saturday, June 29, the Ave Maria Town Center was swinging and swaying for the inaugural Ave Caribbean Fest, a full-day celebration of island cultures featuring live music, dance performances, a fashion show, poetry readings, a children’s pageant, authentic cuisine and a panoply of vendors and activities.

Resident organizers Simone Edwards and Stassie Cadogan, with the help of the Ave Maria Master Association (AMMA), executed their vision with tireless enthusiasm, putting together a joyful event that perfectly commemorated National Caribbean American Heritage Month.

“Our vision and motto were to bring every creed and race together, and I believe that was all done and showcased at Ave Caribbean Fest,” Cadogan said.

Cadogan and Edwards relocated to Ave around three years ago after residing in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale region, where they were involved in activities focused on the Caribbean community.

Edwards, a biomedical information technology consultant of Jamaican heritage and single mother of two teenagers, said, “There are lots of Caribbean folks here, and we felt a need to showcase our culture and create a festival not just for folks of our background but for everyone in Ave Maria and the surrounding communities to enjoy.”

Miss Ave Maria USA Marshana Spavento with 2024 Miss Junior Ave Caribbean Fest Pageant contestants. SANDRA YEYATI / AVE MARIA SUN

Cadogan added, “We didn’t want it to just be a party because our culture offers so much more.” She noted that the event featured artistic and intellectual elements from the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Cadogan, whose heritage is from Trinidad and Tobago, is the director of the Palm Preschool in Ave Maria Town Center. She has three grade-school children with her husband, Ronnie, who served as the master of ceremonies for the entire festival. He was born in Trinidad and Tobago and is an executive at American Express.

“One of the highlights for me was the ending with the vibrant parade of carnival costumes, the thrilling sounds of tassa drums and steel pan, and our mini jump up to Rupee’s song ‘Jump’ that brought everyone together, waving Caribbean flags in the air, celebrating unity and one love,” Cadagan reflected.

Music and dance featured prominently throughout the day. Steeped in the rich reggae tradition, Nostaljah played two enthralling sets, imparting powerful messages of unity, love, hope and resilience. Grammy-Award-winning music producer Winston Thomas, also known as DJ Blackout, provided vibrant daily tunes. The audience brought chairs and gathered on the lawn to listen, watch and dance with friends and neighbors.

The Ave Maria Dance Academy and StassieFit Dance Team performed several styles of music, including Afrobeats from West Africa, calypso from Trinidad and Tobago, reggae from Jamaica and merengue from the Dominican Republic. To the audience’s amazement, two moko jumbie stilt walkers towered 15 feet above the crowd, grooving and prancing along the Town Center’s circle with eye-popping, gravity-defying precision. Wielding drums and cymbals, the Romeo Tassa Kidz ignited the scene with their powerful folk drumming that originated in India and made its way to Trinidad and Tobago.

ABOVE: Members of the Romeo Tassa Kidz.

The community gathered for additional programming involving area merchants, Ave Maria entrepreneurs and even local children. During the fashion show, residents modeled Caribbean-inspired clothes and accessories from retailers The Secret Ingredient and Hoja de Menta and original designs by Gail Santi under her Eevinn label.

Miss Ave Maria USA Marshana Spavento— who is of Jamaican descent—and Junior Miss Miami Broward Carnival Queen Alahnis Hosein hosted the 2024 Miss Junior Ave Caribbean Fest Pageant, which featured five young contestants who modeled formal wear and engaged in a question-and-answer exchange. The audience selected Nylah Charles as the title holder, who received a gorgeous crown and sash to commemorate her reign.

RIGHT: Lifestyle Director Carol DiFlorio performing a Jamaican pantomime.

Dressed in a traditional outfit, Lifestyle Director Carol Diflorio and local Ave Maria resident Vanessa Farquharson performed a Jamaican pantomime, which involved reading a poem by celebrated writer Louise Bennett accompanied by expressive movements that embodied the meaning and emotion of the moment.

An area dedicated to children called Junkanoo Junction included the Rhythm and Reads tent, where authors read from their Caribbean-themed children’s books. Pint-sized percussive instruments were on hand, allowing youngsters to play tambourines, beat toy drums and shake colorful noisemakers. Little ones were also spotted playing with balloons in the 2 Bounce N Bubble bounce house, painting pottery and animal figurines at the Paint & Bake tent and engaging in educational activities at the Teach Me booth.

Word-of-mouth traveled quickly, as a long line formed at the Tropical Smoothie Café booth, which sold authentic Jamaican cuisine prepared by local guest chef Colleen Baychu. Local establishments, including OASIS The Kitchen Lounge, Blue Agave Mexican Restaurant, Vicky Bakery and The Pub & Grill, were busy serving festivalgoers throughout the event. MELTZ, Pop Love and Fat Boy Coconut Water offered delicious, fruity treats to ease the summer heat. Oil Well Craft Beer and Everglades Distillers served adult beverages, and Superior Standard Cigars sold quality smokes.

StassieFit dancers performing.

“We’re grateful to the many vendors and sponsors that made this all possible,” said Edwards. Among the participating vendors were Little Creations by J (beaded jewelry), Plu Beauty (permanent jewelry), Kase of Me (fashion accessories), Craft Addicts (customized tumblers), eVibes Digital Marketing & Prints, Pure Beauty Hair and Supply Store, Reggae N Things (Caribbean fashion), Stella Rose Way (gifts and home goods), Way Out Toys & Games and Vikka’s Art (resin art).

Capping off a fantastic day, the finale delighted onlookers with a carnival showcase. Performers in colorful costumes paraded and danced around Annunciation Circle while Romeo Tessa Kidz and steelpan drummers Osiris Martin and Nikita Graves provided exhilarating island beats.

“I’m incredibly thankful and grateful to have shared this experience with no one other than Simone. Together, we made history by capturing the essence of Caribbean culture right here in Ave Maria,” Cadogan exclaimed.

Eboni Wilson of Craft Addicts displaying her customized tumblers.

Aria Burton, 12, owner of Handmade 4 Him, makes wax candles.

Fatimah Payne and Jessie Little, owner of Little Creations by J.

Vanessa Ramirez and child Zac Andrew at the Rhythm and Reads booth.

Frank and Jennifer Rodriguez, co-owners of eVibes Digital Marketing & Prints.

Drummer of Nostaljah.

Jamaican cuisine by local guest chef Colleen Baychu was a hit.

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