Tamarac’s Yard on The Lawn Music Festival

By Akaliah Simpson

The entertainment world is still buzzing after what many are calling the biggest event in Tamarac’s history. Excitement reached a fever pitch during the inaugural Tamarac Food & Wine Festival on April 17 at the city’s amphitheater. Before headliner Busy Signal even took the stage, organizers stunned the crowd with a surprise announcement: Grammy Award-winning reggae icon Buju Banton would headline a concert at the Tamarac Sports Complex on June 6. Festival attendees were among the first to claim free tickets, turning an already unforgettable night into a historic moment for the city.

On June 6, guests arrived in droves for a number of festivities. While promoters blared classic and modern reggae/dancehall hits visitors explored an array of vendors. Food trucks reflecting a melting pop of Caribbean culture. Jerk chicken, festival, smoothies, desserts, and many other items sellers put a delicious spin on made the event even more memorable. The venue also had on theme jewelry, art, fashion, dance to name a few.

The celebration in Tamarac featured prominent artists on the international scene. Rutshelle Guillaume, Miss Kitty as well as show headliner Banton. Performing hits such as “Champion” and “Driver A” his 20 minute set had the crowd exhilarated and filled with energy. Dancehall icon Banton’s career will soon reach four decades with no sign of it slowing down. He continues to reshape and share his craft. The On February 10, the City of Lauderdale Lakes declared it Buju Banton day. The conclusion of the event saw another award for the eight-time Grammy nominee. Upon acceptance of the award, Banton could be quoted saying “Resilience, perseverance and faith.” Miss Kitty, another award recipient on behalf of the 31 cities in Broward County received the key to all of Broward County.

Caribbean American heritage month turned 20 years old this June and South Florida has had celebrations like no where in the country. Privately Mayor Michelle Gomez revealed the reason behind the event. Her, vice mayor Marlon D. Bolton, and countless others hustled behind the scenes to craft the night together. Thanks to their hard work, approximately 15,000 people experienced a night to remember.