Jamaican Independence Day is this weekend, and you know Tampa Jerk Hut is celebrating

On Jul 30, 2026

A Library of Congress photo of Marcus Garvey. Credit: Keystone View Company, restored by Creator:Adam Cuerden, Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

Most of Florida’s more than 311,000 Jamaicans live south of the Tampa Bay area, but that’s not stopping locals from celebrating Jamaican Independence Day.

Following more than three centuries of British rule—and through hard wars, rebellion and movements led by the likes of Paul Bogle and Marcus Garvey (pictured)—green, gold and black became the Caribbean nation’s official colors just 64 years ago.

One of Tampa’s most popular and longest-running Jamaican restaurants, Andrew Ashmeade’s Jerk Hut, throws a big party complete with platter specials and live music.

It’s $20 to get into the “Jamaica Love” party at Jerk Hut in Tampa on Saturday, Aug. 1.

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This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 05, 2026.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief… More by Ray Roa

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Jamaican Independence Day is this weekend, and you know Tampa Jerk Hut is celebrating

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