I love the Calabash festival and endured the early ones where the heavy rain flooded most of the time as we huddled under the tent (and this was before there was a stage. I still wonder how there electrical equipment didn't short out).

Other years there has been no rain, which is wonderful in some ways, but makes it also very hot, even in the shade of the tents.

On one of those really hot days, I learned to appreciate the Jamaican habit of carrying a face rag (handkerchief or wash cloth) to wipe the sweat from one's face and neck.

By the end of one Calabash my friends and I had developed a scale to describe how hot it was, whether it was a one, two or three rag day.

The three rag day was when it was so hot that we used one to wipe our sweat, one to cover our head, and one to fill with ice to place at the base of our neck to cool us. :-)

So when you come to Calabash bring some water and a handkerchief or two. You won't regret it.


See everyone at Calabash!

Great advice Janet! I remember both the rainy festivals and the 3 rag days, loved all of them and can't wait for the experiences which will be unique to this year.