International acts ready for Fun in the Son

Overseas-based gospel artistes such as Junior Tucker, DJ Nicholas, Papa San, New Creation Group, and the South African, all-girls group, Simply Chrystolite began arriving in Kingston as early as Tuesday in preparation for the 2012 Best Dressed Fun in the Son Gospel Festival taking place today at National Heroes Park.

They will join local acts Carlene Davis, Goddy Goddy, Rondell Positive, Deneese Wright, On the Shout Band, and United States gospel superstar Kirk Franklin in the world-class Grand Concert, which is set to begin at 4 p.m.

Evangelist Andrew Palau will minister the Word during the concert and hundreds of peer evangelists and counsellors will be on hand to help lead patrons to the Lord.

The festival is being sponsored by the Jamaica Broilers Group, through its Best Dressed Chicken brand, in association with Glory Music Limited.

"There is a buzz about the gospel festival all over the island and especially throughout the communities surrounding the National Heroes Park.

"As a matter of fact, churches from rural Jamaica - as far away as Westmoreland and St Elizabeth - are making plans to bus their congregants into the festival today. People are talking about the festival … it is on everybody's lips," said Tommy Cowan, managing director of Glory Music and co-producer of Best Dressed Fun in the Son.

"We know that God has great plans for Best Dressed Fun in the Son this year as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event," he continued.

And on arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday, July 10, members of Simply Chrysolite said they were excited to be in Jamaica - an island they had longed dreamed of visiting.

"They are looking forward to ministering at Best Dressed Fun in the Son and to having some of your famous jerked chicken while they are here," said the group's manager, Paul Harrison, who is a second-generation Jamaican based in London.

The day's activities begin at 10 a.m. - and continue throughout the day - with Christian stuntmen in the Reggae Jammin Extreme Sports, puppetry, storytelling, and face and hand-painting in the kiddies' village, heritage tours in the monument park - all free of cost to the public. Sixty vendors will be accommodated in the Best Dressed Chicken Food Court and Jamaican craft and snacks will be sold in the Jamaica Walk.