On Monday morning Sinbad, internationally known comedian, actor and producer, announced he is bringing the Kmart Presents…Sinbad's Soul Music Festival to St. Thomas. The announcement was made on the Tom Joyner Morning Show on KISS-FM 101.3
The six-day festival, which is expected to bring up to 7,000 people to the island, will begin May 26 and run through the Memorial Day weekend.
Hosting the popular event in St. Thomas could pump up to $20 million into the Virgin Islands economy, according to a release from the Virgin Islands' public relations firm, Martin Public Relations.
Residents and businesspeople have been anxiously awaiting confirmation since early February when talks heated up about bringing the show to St. Thomas.
In mid-February the V.I. Port Authority board voted unanimously to allow the entertainer to use the Crown Bay landfill site, free of charge, for the main stage events
The festival will feature live musical performances, beach parties and comedy concerts. Visitors are expected to shop, dine and sightsee in addition to attending the festival events.
Sinbad has not announced who the head liners for the show will be. Past performers at the Soul Music Festivals have been Natalie Cole, Earth Wind and Fire, KC and the Sunshine Band, among others.
As part of the festivities, Tom Joyner will broadcast his morning show live from St. Thomas on Friday, May 28.
Sinbad has his own web site where travel packages can be reserved at www.soulmusicfestival.com. He said updates will also be posted regularly at the site. Information can also be obtained by calling 1-800-266-SOUL or 1-888-SOUL-JAM.
