Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival to return after $1M donation to St. Elizabeth farmers
Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival Directors Gregory Wright (far right) and Jason Henzell (far left) are joined by the Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, at the launch of the 2025 event. The festival organisers recently announced the return of the three-day culinary and cultural experience to Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, from November 6-8, 2026
Key Points(5)
- The Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival will return to Treasure Beach, St.
- Elizabeth, in November after organizers fulfilled a J$1 million commitment to farmers affected by Hurricane Melissa.
- The festival is scheduled for Nov.
- 6-8, 2026, marking its return to its traditional three-day format and home in St.
- Elizabeth after last year’s staging was transformed into a one-day benefit concert following the hurricane.
The Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival will return to Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, in November after organizers fulfilled a J$1 million commitment to farmers affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The festival is scheduled for Nov. 6-8, 2026, marking its return to its traditional three-day format and home in St. Elizabeth after last year’s staging was transformed into a one-day benefit concert following the hurricane.
The J$1 million contribution was handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining to support farmers across St. Elizabeth affected by the disaster. According to the ministry, the funds are now being used in part to truck water to farming communities facing ongoing dry conditions.
Festival Founder and Co-Director Jason Henzell said supporting the parish’s farmers was a central priority following the hurricane and reinforced the festival’s original purpose.
“I’m very proud that despite the passing of Hurricane Melissa, the Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival was able to fulfil its obligations to the farmers of St. Elizabeth,” Henzell said.
He said the donation had reached farmers in communities including Pedro Plains, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Black River and Ginger Hill.
“Seeing first-hand the incredible work they do has made me truly appreciate the importance of food security and reinforced why I conceptualised the Treasure Beach Food, Rum & Reggae Festival in the first place, because our farmers deserve to be celebrated,” he said.
Henzell thanked the festival’s partners, patrons and supporters for helping organizers meet the commitment and said he was looking forward to bringing the event back to Treasure Beach.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister Floyd Green also commended the organizers for following through on their pledge.
Green said the contribution was particularly timely as farmers contend with dry conditions in the parish.
“The team from the festival stayed true to their commitment of contributing J$1,000,000 to help the farmers of St. Elizabeth, largely South St. Elizabeth, and that contribution has now come in very handy as it is being channelled into trucking water to farmers in these dry conditions and to farm families,” Green said.
He described the festival’s return as another milestone in St. Elizabeth’s recovery following Hurricane Melissa and said the government looked forward to partnering with organizers for the 2026 staging.
The 2025 festival was initially planned as a three-day culinary and cultural event but was reimagined as a benefit concert after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica. Proceeds were directed toward agricultural recovery in St. Elizabeth.
Organizers said the festival’s return will again bring together food, rum, reggae, local artisans and community businesses while highlighting the farmers, fishers, chefs and other entrepreneurs who contribute to the parish’s economy.
The festival will run from Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.
