Shoebury East Beach Festival returns for second year

The family-friendly, multicultural event celebrates Caribbean culture with music, food, and dancing.

It is the second year of the annual years, after it was launched last year to mark Southend’s first year as a city and 60 years of Jamaican independence.

Today is day one of the two-day event, and hundreds have already made their way to Shoebury.

Joan Bernand Love, a cook at the Jerk Queen – Taste of the Caribbean stall, said: “We are here today because we are Jamaican, and we are celebrating 61 years independent.

“We are selling food here today, it is a wonderful festival along the seaside, there are rides, music, everything here – it is very good.

“It is such a wonderful atmosphere with a community spirit.

“We are so excited to be here.”

Jerk Queen – Taste of the Caribbean stall (Image: Newsquest)

General admission to the event is free, but there is a limited number of VIP tickets for sale - which has allowed some spectators to get close to all the action on the stage.

As well as electrifying performances, festival-goers have been enjoying a fun fair, food stalls and bars.

Many visitors have been indulging in mouth-watering Jerk cuisine, savouring the flavours of Jamaican dishes, and appreciating the art, crafts, and fashion which showcase the Jamaican culture.

Sam Young, 31, and his daughter Bethany, 8, have come to the event for the first time.

Dad, Sam, said: “This is our first time, we saw it was on, so thought we would come down.

“We are excited to be here and be able to see what it is about, it is great.

“The atmosphere is great, and we have got good weather.”

Sam Young, 31, and his daughter Bethany (Image: Newsquest)

To open the festival, there was a selection of steel pan music. At 1pm organisers hosted Essex Got Talent, which showcases the county's emerging talent in action.

Claire Harman, in her 40s, came down all the way from Hertfordshire with her mum for the festival.

She said: “We are very excited; I think it is amazing to have this event. It is a real family and community event.

“There has been good food and good music, and luckily the sun is out too.

“We came last year, by just stumbling across it by chance. But as we enjoyed ourselves so much, we were looking for the date all year to come again this year.

“It is just really good vibes.”