Each year the Riverside Academy Arts Festival explores the culture and history of a different country as both an educational and entertainment experience. This year RA will try to put everyone in a tropical mood as it explores the islands of the Caribbean on Thursday, March 16, from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard. Admission is free.

There will be many activities related to the theme. At 5:45 p.m. there will be a Bahama “Junkanoo” Parade featuring the fifth graders on golf carts and the Marching Pride of Riverside. There will be a performance by the RA concert band in the Paradise Cove Beach Bar (the Cafeteria). The evening will include Caribbean character appearances featuring songs from the kindergarten class, first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, and RA Ovations.  The winners of the Pre-K coloring contest and the golf cart decoration contest will be announced at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m.  There will be a performance by a the Bamboo Boat Band and Steel Drum Band from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Caribbean dishes, such as Jamaican Jerk chicken wings, Cuban Three Bean Salad, Puerto Rican Empanadas and Caribbean Confetti Rice will be available for purchase as well as beer, wine, tropical snowballs and soft drinks.