Hope Gardens, in St Andrew last Saturday. Although the event started from as early as 11:00 am, the stage show performances were not set to get underway until 6:00 pm with artistes such as Prince Saj, Joby Jay, Rondell Positive, Christopher Martin, and GraceKennedy Brand Ambassador Ding Dong, along with the Ravers.

Ding Dong explained that the festival’s staging was particularly sentimental because it represented the legacy of the late former Group CEO Don Wehby. “It’s always a delight and pleasure to be here representing the brand; representing the culture [and] representing this monumental moment. It’s very dear to me because this is the first one without Don,” Ding Dong told the Jamaica Observer. The entertainer’s usual energetic set featured crowd engagement, with one lucky worker receiving $10,000 from his team for her rendition of the popularised Stir Fry dance. He also surprised the almost 5,000 patrons who turned out with appearances by Kemar Highcon and Vanessa Bling. The latter — who was flown in just for the event — paid a special tribute to Wehby with the song Glory.

Ding Dong noted that he has managed to champion the Grace brand over the last few years because of a long-standing preference for their products. “Mi grow up pon the mackerel and the bully beef and the other stuff, so it just comes natural to me. Grace products are embedded in my life, my kids’ lives, my family and friends’ lives. It doesn’t even cost me a sweat,” he explained. From jerk pork and pastas to sweet treats and smoothies, patrons enjoyed a wide variety of offerings from more than 20 Jamaican food vendors.  (Jamaica Observer)