IOJ to host Salute to the Parish of Kingston
Published:Saturday | January 24, 2026 | 12:06 AM
As Jamaica continues to reflect following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which impacted parishes across the island, the Institute of Jamaica will host Salute to the Parish of Kingston on Friday, January 30, at St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston. The event will celebrate Kingston’s resilience and cultural significance.
Staged under the theme, ‘Kingston, the Phoenix City: Music, Fashion and Cuisine’, the celebration seeks to reposition the capital parish as more than a centre of work and administration, highlighting its history as a place of creativity, survival, and renewal. Founded in 1692 after the destruction of Port Royal and reshaped by events such as the 1907 earthquake, Kingston has repeatedly risen from adversity to become Jamaica’s cultural heartbeat.
The free, public event will feature live performances by school groups, as well as live demonstrations representing key elements of Kingston’s cultural identity. These include music presentations by Rockers International, fashion showcases by Quindell Costume Utopia, and culinary demonstrations facilitated by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission. Members of the public will also be able to engage directly with various booth-holders and curated heritage and cultural spaces, including museum displays and exhibits presented by divisions of the Institute of Jamaica.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, noted that “Kingston is a living testament to resilience. From disaster and disruption, it has always found a way to rise, shaping Jamaica’s cultural and creative identity”.
A press release from the organisers noted that the event “is an opportunity to remind Jamaicans that Kingston is more than a place of work or transit. It is a place of memory, creativity, and resilience, and a powerful symbol of our ability to rise and rebuild as a nation”.
Salute to the Parish of Kingston is supported by National Housing Trust, SOL Jamaica, Jamaica Broilers Group, Caribbean Broilers Group, Texaco, and WICHON, with institutional partnership from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport and the Tourism Product Development Company.
The public is encouraged to attend and experience a day of culture, history, and community celebration in the heart of downtown Kingston.