By Mary Isokariari, From The Voice

Annual event takes place this weekend (27/28)

Coventry is getting ready to celebrate the annual Caribbean Festival 2013 this weekend at the War Memorial Park .

Local teenager Kaman Francis Balou, 18, a street dancer and teacher who appeared on this years TV’s Got to Dance, will be performing at the Caribbean Festival 2013 alongside artists such on the main stage

The annual event hosted by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Radio presenter Trish Adudu and DJ Mikey Dee, from Hillz FM and Sting FM, is expected to be bigger and better this year attracting a crowd from the Caribbean and the wider community.

The festival, started as a gathering of families and friends in 1991, has been organised by voluntary directors Clyde McIntosh, the founding member, Charles Kelly and Sonia Tennant, with the support of a team of volunteers.

Tennant told the Coventry Telegraph:: “The festival is particularly important to Coventry as it is the one location and occasion where all members of the local Caribbean community can come together and celebrate their identity, along with the rest of the city.

“The community is spread throughout the city, without a concentration in a particular area.

“Apart from the West Indian Community Centre, there are no other venues aimed at the Caribbean community.”

She added: “The festival is an opportunity not only for celebration, but also members of the Caribbean community, who frequently feel alienated from mainstream services and provision, but are in real need of appropriate support.”

PHOTO: STREET PARTY: Children participate in a previous Coventry festival

For more on this story go to:

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/coventry-caribbean-festival-shower-city-colour