Annual Events

Our annual Scholarship Dinner Dance is held every year around the end of March/beginning of April. At that time, we present scholarships to outstanding, academically sound students, who will be entering college later that year. This is the highlight of our fundraising activities for the year. Over the past 28 years, we have awarded over $89,800 in Scholarships.

June is celebrated as Caribbean American Heritage Month – during this celebration we hope to ensure that America is reminded that its greatness lies in its diversity, with Caribbean immigrants from founding father Alexander Hamilton, to journalist Marcus Garvey.

The Annual Cultural Queen pageant gives our Young people an opportunity to display their talents, intellect, grace, and beauty. Also, it helps them to develop their self-esteem and team spirit. It involves them in community work, and gives them a sense of pride.

The Rochester West Indian Festival Organization, Inc. has hosts a Caribbean Festivals, called CARIFEST. This event features some of the Caribbeans finest in food, music, and arts and crafts. The annual costume parade highlights the traditional carnival spirit of the Caribbean, with its flamboyant costumes and music. The parade starts at Liberty Pole Way, Downtown Rochester, continuing down Main Street. It gives the people of Rochester and its surrounding communities a taste of the Caribbean culture. The festival is usually held on the 2^nd weekend in August in Downtown Rochester with an average attendance of over 5000 people.