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The Jerkfest moment no one saw coming; Including me
“By the time I turned to leave, it was standing room only; Toronto’s youth had claimed Jerkfest as their own.”
I’ve been to Jerkfest before, but never on a Friday. This year, I thought, why not? I arrived early with a plan: talk to the food vendors before the rush. That decision paid off.
The first to greet me was Chef Rayon Campbell of Coal Pot Jerk. “The name came from seeing my parents cooking on the coal pot,” he said. Similar to a wood stove, the coal pot is a fixture in many Caribbean backyards. “Growing up in Jamaica, that’s what I knew.”
Campbell brought that tradition to Canada, serving jerk chicken, pork, and brisket that pulled people in from across the park.
Next up was Errol from Flava Pon The Rocks, making his family’s debut at Jerkfest. “It means a lot to be here as a startup,” he told me. “We’re looking forward to serving our: pork, fish, and chicken.”
Even in the middle of setting up, vendors were eager to chat. Jacky of 169 Jerk shared, “We’ve been doing festivals for decades: every weekend, we’re somewhere. Jamaican culture is rich, and the food speaks for itself. Being at Jerkfest is amazing.”
Ramon Williams of Jerk Express called the event “A festival to spread culture,” adding, “The trucks, vendors, and people come together to celebrate Caribbean heritage and show Toronto what Jerkfest is all about.”
Then there was Ralph of West Indian Delights, back for his second year. His menu? Jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, fried dumplings, escovitch fish, rice and peas, and white rice. “Oh, Gad man, it’s lovely,” Ralph said with a grin. “Second time here, and it’s nice.”
The house DJ kept early guests swaying to lovers rock from: Beres Hammond, Sanchez, and other reggae icons. While the Friday crowd started small, the music quality never dipped; Canadian performers shone, and Jamaican dancehall sensation Valiant closed the night with undeniable energy.
By the time I edged toward the exit, the scene had shifted. What had been an easy stroll to the stage earlier was now a packed, almost shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, most of them young, and all of them ready to party.
They sang every lyric, danced without pause, and made it clear: Jerkfest belongs to them as much as to anyone.
This year’s festival runs August 8th–10th, with international reggae star Tarrus Riley closing the weekend. Jerkfest 2025, where good food meets great music and even greater people, an event you’ll remember long after the last drumbeat fades.