Caribbean Festival in Roseville highlights diversity

Amid the triple-digit temperatures of Saturday, dozens of area residents flocked to @TheGrounds in Roseville to take part in a cultural celebration of the Caribbean. The Caribbean Festival, presented by Taste the World Festival and Shows, was a quaint affair with live music, traditional Caribbean cooking and several vendors representing an array of countries and their cultures. Ja'nice Wisdom, the Sacramento Caribbean American Association president, said Saturday's event touched upon multiple facets of interest. In addition to networking with other organizations and vendors who specialized in certain Caribbean items, Saturday's event was a chance to showcase cultures and countries that are typically underrepresented. "Not all countries are represented," Wisdom said. "It's an opportunity for people to know we're here in the area and we are an advocate for different countries in Sacramento and in the general community. To find out this is the first (Caribbean Festival) one they are having, we definitely wanted to be present. We wanted to make sure we got to know other vendors, the people in the community and just support one another." Among the handful of vendors present at the Caribbean Festival was Yolanda Molina and her adult daughter, who co-own Mucha Muchachas, a jewelry and novelties store. The Fair Oaks-based company representatives, who cater to the Latin community, said it's good to see there is some interest in Caribbean culture in Roseville. "I think it's nice to see that people are showing some kind of love to the Caribbean," Molina said. "It's a beautiful place. Just to see that there's a lot more about the Caribbean that we typically see in the news is great. Just to be here and embrace the culture and you notice it's not just about one country. There are people of all colors who just love the Caribbean style and all different types of music."