May 1st

Well every year Jacmel has a huge celebration for the birthday of Jacmel and it happens to be on May 1st. The city became alive and the streets were filled with people and music. There was music for three nights and the party started on Friday night. There were a lot of people from out of town that came into town just for this weekend. People and families were camping on the beach and the Haitian spirit was alive.

On one beach in downtown Jacmel vendors were set up selling their art work, jewelry and goods. There were a couple stages set up for live music and it food vendors everywhere. Being here, it seemed like a huge festival and celebration. The main beach which everyone goes too, Ramon Beach, had the same kind of set up. Food vendors, craftsman and campers all lined up for the festivities. I have never seen a beach so crowded. A friend of mine here compared it to Long Beach on the fourth of July. I have never been to Long Beach on the fourth but I will take her word.

I just kept remembering Cuyahoga Falls Rockin’ on the River. For those of you who grew up in Northeast Ohio, you know these weekend summertime events that happen every weekend. Local Jacmelians told me that this year it was really small because if the earthquake and it usually is much larger than what it was. I could not imagine it being any larger because of the traffic situation in Jacmel. All I can think about that is if there were more people in town the traffic would be crazy. Jacmel is not set up for a huge influx of people.