Fourth Annual Santa Barbara Caribbean Festival Slated For Saturday June 19th

Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) May 18, 2004--The date of the fourth annual Santa Barbara Caribbean Festival was announced today by founder Virginia Felcher. With three annual events behind her, Virginia has been busy lining up the best acts in Salsa, Calypso, Reggae and Latin Jazz for this year’s event, featuring The Susie Hansen Band, Doyle McKinney-Steel Drums, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca with their new CD ‘Ay Valeria’ and as an added highlight we will have Caribbean Jems, a limbo dance group that will bring the festival to it’s knees in competing for prizes as we see, “how low you can go.� Santa Barbara’s festival celebrates the rich diversity of cultures of the Caribbean region and exposes the community to the art, music, dance and food of the islands that make up the Caribbean.

You are invited to join us for a day of fun, celebration and learning, as the entire family participates in a festival intended to bring one and all a little closer to each other and the outside world. In past years, the tiny Oak Park stage has featured the Grammy nominated Latin Salsa of Cuba’s Maraca, the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Richard Lemvo, as well as steel drums and reggae music from Jamaica. Santa Barbara’s Festival has become one of the favorite venues for visiting Caribbean acts looking for bookings as well as island music lovers that travel from throughout Southern California in search of the best of Salsa, Calypso and Reggae. This year’s line up is sure to have something for everyone, so come join the conga line and dance the day away. If all that dancing makes you hungry, so much the better, as the booths at Oak Park will feature spicy Jamaican food, Cuban delicacies and Puerto Rican delights; with all the varied spices and smells that brings the region’s food its magic. Children have their own area at the festival ‘Pirate Cove’ where they will enjoy face painting, storytelling and crafts.

Portions of the festival proceeds are contributed to IFCO. The Inter-religious Foundation for Community Organizations, which, as part of it’s, “Pastors for Peace� program, contributes direct relief in the form of food medicine and clothing to underdeveloped countries.

Come join us from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM on June 19th and help us celebrate the rich diversity of culture in beautiful Santa Barbara. For additional information, festival schedule and directions to Oak Park, visit our Website at http://caribbean.santabarbara.com/ or contact Mike Hollywood at contact numbers listed above