Downtown CultureFest returned for its final day this year on Thursday. This time, it was a celebration of Jamaican culture. Just like over the past weeks, a significant crowd gathered to learn about the Caribbean island nation. “Oh, my God, Jamaican culture... It’s very, it’s powerful. It’s entertaining. It’s togetherness. It’s everything that you dream of,” said Celina Henry, a member of the Jamaica Parkland Association. Henry told CTV News about the program just as it was about to begin. “We have dances going to start [soon]. We’ll have a musician performing live with a band,” she said. One thing Yorkton certainly learned about the Caribbean island nation is that Jamaicans love to dance. Soon, from the performers to the vendors, most Jamaicans were dancing, and it wasn’t long before members of the audience were caught bobbing their heads as well. “The dance is a mixture of reggae, authentic reggae, and dancehall. That’s what our genres are in Jamaica,” Henry explained. In front of the stage, two dancers from Regina performed, captivating the audience both in their seats and gathered out front. Spectators also had a chance to taste real Jamaican delicacies such as jerk chicken. Throughout the evening, the emcee taught the crowd small facts about Jamaica, then quizzed them for prizes. There was even a dance-off, won by a local youth. A local woman also showed off her Jamaica-inspired moves. She said her name is Darla, but she preferred to go by Dancing Queen. Music and dance defined the last day of the 2026 Downtown CultureFest.
