Festival is made from cornmeal (ground corn), flour, sugar, vanilla, and a little salt, all mixed together into a dough that is shaped into long fingers or oval rolls before being deep fried. The cornmeal gives it a pleasantly grainy texture and a golden colour.
The name 'festival' is thought to come from the festive, happy feeling people get from eating it - it is a cheerful, celebratory food that shows up at parties, beach barbecues, and family Sunday dinners alike.
Along the Jamaican coast, you will often see festival sold alongside fried fish at roadside stalls - a pairing that Jamaicans consider absolutely perfect. The sweetness of the festival bread and the saltiness of the fish work together wonderfully.
Festival is very quick to make once the dough is ready. Street vendors mix and fry fresh batches throughout the day, so you can often buy festival that is still warm and crispy right from the oil.