Accompong Maroon Festival

View on map
MusicAccompong
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's core ritual, a communal march
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: JMD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Accompong Maroon Festival in Accompong

Held January 5 and 6 in the Maroon village of Accompong, St Elizabeth, this festival commemorates the 1739 treaty between the Leeward Maroons, led by Cudjoe, and British forces. A march to the sacred Kindah Tree, traditional unseasoned pork, and gumbeh drumming mark what locals call a Maroon New Year.

Each January 5 and 6, the population of Accompong, a Maroon village tucked into the hills of St Elizabeth, swells from around 500 residents to several thousand visitors for a festival marking the 1739 peace treaty between the Leeward Maroons, led by the warrior Cudjoe, and British colonial forces after more than fifty years of guerrilla warfare.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's core ritual, a communal march to the Kindah Tree followed by a meal of pork cooked without salt or seasoning, replicates the provisioning Maroon fighters used during their decades-long guerrilla campaign, when smoke from seasoned cooking could give away a hidden camp

02

The mystery stays covered

It is a community-run observance rather than a JCDC-organized national event, and it sits on its own January date, entirely separate from Jamaica's Emancipation and Independence season in late July and August

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The march to the Kindah Tree

Water and renewal

Living ritual

unsalted traditional pork

The sacred route

Living ritual

gumbeh drumming

The local code

Living ritual

and oral storytelling about Cudjoe and the Leeward Maroons' war against the British recur annually as the festival's fixed core

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Use Accompong transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Comfortable walking shoes for hill terrain and rural roads; casual clothing suited to a daytime outdoor gathering with limited shade.

Safety

Accompong Maroon Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in Accompong, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

JMD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map18.23 N, 77.76 WOpen in Google Maps

Accompong, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica

Nearest airportMBJ — Sangster
TransportUse Accompong transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in Accompong, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Accompong via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Accompong, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearComfortable walking shoes for hill terrain and rural roads; casual clothing suited to a daytime outdoor gathering with limited shade.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Jamaica and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Accompong Maroon Festival?

Accompong Maroon Festival is listed for Past edition: 6 January 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Accompong Maroon Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Accompong, Jamaica. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Accompong, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmaroonfestja.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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