The highly anticipated Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, being hosted by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), will welcome patrons to a new and bigger venue for this year’s eighth staging on Saturday, March 1.

“We are [going to be] at the Hope Gardens [in Kingston],” Director, Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the TEF, Carolyn McDonald Riley, told JIS News.

The event was previously staged in Newcastle, St. Andrew, against the picturesque backdrop provided by the Blue Mountains. “While we love the Blue Mountains and we love the excursion going up in the mountains, we had outgrown the venue,” she said, noting that tickets were often sold out soon after going on sale. “We [will be] in a brand-new space, a much bigger place, and you are going to absolutely love it,” McDonald Riley declared.

She told JIS News that over the years, persons without tickets often drove to the previous venue with the intention of securing same but would end up causing traffic blockages and preventing seamless movement. This year’s venue at Hope Gardens will alleviate those issues, providing more space for parking and better accessibility for everyone. McDonald Riley further informed that the new venue will not detract from the Festival, but instead enable more people to interact and have an enhanced experience. “We anticipate that we’ll have lots more persons there, just like we will have more persons offering themselves in terms of products,” she said.

A total of 60 local artisans will be showcasing a variety of coffee-infused products in the Festival Marketplace. The new venue will also provide a larger space for activities, food and entertainment. There will be a Barista Competition, which will see three baristas competing for the title of Barista of the Year.

A barista prepares and serves coffee and other beverages in a coffee shop, café or similar establishment.

Additionally, there will be a dedicated children’s play area featuring a petting zoo, and live performances by recording artistes Sanchez and Tanya Stephens, the Charles Town Maroons. and the Silver Birds Steel Orchestra.

Popular media personalities “Miss Kitty” and “Jenny Jenny” will co-host the day’s activities.

“We are encouraging persons to come out and have a great time. The Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is one of our premier products, and we feel one of the best ways to talk about our product is for us to be exposed to it,” McDonald Riley said.

Tickets for the Festival are available at coffee shops across Kingston and on www.touchstonelink.com.

The prices are $5,000 for adults and $3,000 for children.