The finalists for the 2024 Jamaica Festival Song competition and Festival Parish Queens selection are well underway in time for the 62nd Independence celebrations.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Babsy Grange, and the official social media account of the JCDC released the names and songs of the finalists over the weekend.

This year’s finalists of six women and five men include media personality Pepita, 2nd time entrant Kimiela Candy Issacs, 2023 Miss Hanover Festival Queen Trisstar, Auraiya Hope, Sister Novelette, Renzzah, Trishmaq, Lex MD, Reggae Max and Eric Donaldson’s nephew, Casey Donaldson.

The posts outlined that the winner will be determined through a combination of judging from a panel and voting through local telecommunications providers. Voting will begin after the live presentation show on June 27 and close on the evening of the finals at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Saturday July 13, 2024.

Meanwhile festival queens from the parishes of St Ann, St Elizabeth, St Thomas and Hanover have been crowned. Portland, Clarendon and Manchester will crown their queens over the upcoming Father’s Day weekend while St Mary, Trelawny, Kingston and St Andrew will crown their queen on the weekend of June 22. 

The parishes of St Catherine and St James will host their coronation shows on June 29, 2024.