Gramps Morgan from the award-winning band Morgan Heritage, Richie Spice, Ernie Smith and other reggae artists will perform at the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater.

The family festival runs from 3 to 11 p.m. and features a farmer’s market with the Miramar Community Garden, where guests will be able to learn how to maintain their own home gardens. There will also be a kids’ zone with water activities and arts and crafts.

Miramar has one of the largest Jamaican diaspora populations in the world. Aug. 1 marks slave emancipation in 1838, while independence was gained Aug. 6, 1962.

As the mayor of Miramar, Wayne Messam said he looks forward to hosting this year’s festival and seeing people learn about Jamaican culture.

“You have so many immigrants that have immigrated to America and now they have children and grandchildren that are our residents,” Messam said. “And to see the community come together, passing on the culture, the history and the food, just the whole atmosphere, the music from the various artists. It’s just a good family-oriented event.” 

The weekend of events includes a reception on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 2, from 6 p.m. to midnight, is the Jamaica 62nd Pre-Independence Day Fete, a free celebration with Jamaican music and a chance at winning airline tickets. The last event is the Jamaica Independence Cup, a soccer tournament at Henry D. Perry Education Center, on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Jamaica Emancipendence Ole Time Fair

WHEN: 3-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3

WHERE: Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater, 16801 Miramar Parkway

COST: Free admission, $10 parking

INFORMATION: Registration required at Eventbrite.com

“My dad has dementia, and as I’m caring for him, I was struck with this notion of, how could I represent this visually to people? What this is like for him, what this is like for me as a caregiver,” said Beck, a South Florida artist and writer.

Beck uses quilting and photos to focus on the effects of memory, identity and dementia in “Before I Forget,” which opens along with a Main Gallery exhibit featuring Edison Peñafiel’s “Bario Alto,” Mitzi Falcón’s “Sementerxs” and Amanda Linares’ “Dialogue Across Walls.” The exhibits opened Thursday, Aug. 1, and will be on display through Saturday, Oct. 5.

Gulie Carrington, marketing and communications coordinator, said the exhibits are mainly about construction in several different ways.

“Construction seems to tie everything together, whether constructing memory, ‘Barrio Alto’ with the buildings and how easy they come down as far as being made from cardboard, and ‘Dialogue Across Walls,’ ” Carrington said. “Mitzi, as well, with the great work with ‘Sementerxs.’ ”

“Barrio Alto,” which translates to “Uptown Neighborhood,” is a showcase of black-and-white photographs featuring cardboard dioramas of cityscapes. Peñafiel said the works illustrate social-economic dynamics. Originally from Ecuador and now living in Broward County, he was surprised at how fragile the housing is in the United States.

“Each diorama unveils a unique scene portraying disparities and the construction cost of housing,” Peñafiel said. “‘Barrio Alto,’ the title, plays with ambiguity signifying both affluent neighborhoods and also poverty-stricken ‘favelas.'”

“Sementerxs” is a series of photographs of transgender construction workers from the state of Veracruz in Mexico. The workers’ boots and helmets will also be on display. Through “Sementerxs,” Falcón advocates for LGBTQ+ and labor rights.

Falcón said in Spanish that a huge earthquake in Mexico in 1985 led her mother to become a construction worker. Like her mother, the construction workers she photographed had to move to Mexico City to find jobs.

Falcón exhibits in the United States through The Ant Project, a Miami-based nonprofit founded by Guadalupe Garcia. Garcia first met Falcón in Mexico and was impressed with her work.

“The series is about making visible, not only that there are transgender people in the construction field, but also the beauty that these people embrace to their gender identification,” said Garcia, who also translated for Falcón. “They’re not just workers, they’re people, they’re human beings. They have a personality, dreams, and it’s incredible that many of them have transitioned within the construction sites.”

“Dialogues Across Walls” is part of “In the Midst of All,” an exhibition Linares started last year. Linares uses concrete, clay, wood, graphite, color pencils, cracks, insects and shadows to illustrate how our surroundings can reflect our past. “Dialogues Across Walls” will also have an interactive element, allowing museumgoers to depict their own memories.

Originally from Cuba, Linares has lived in Miami for 11 years. She said she uses concrete because of its duality, and the connection to the colonial architecture of Cuba.

“It is a material that can be very sturdy and durable, but it becomes very fragile as well. Within my work, because of the way that I use it, I create these plates that are kind of thinner, and somehow, you see the fragility of the material,” Linares said.

Museumgoers will be able to participate in different stations as part of “Before I Forget.” You could write your favorite memories on a quilt or record something you would you like to remember in the moment. There will also be a bus station that signifies people with dementia or Alzheimer’s wanting to go home.

“You’re seeing this bus stop, but you’re also going to be asked as an audience to write down what you think home is, what home is to you,” Beck said. “I really am interested in not only sharing what these ideas of memory and identity are, but learning from other people what their memories and identities are.”

The opening reception for the exhibitions will be on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Peñafiel and Linares will also lead a free conversation about their works on Thursday, Aug. 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Before I Forget,” “Barrio Alto,” “Sementerxs” and “Dialogues Across Walls”

WHEN: Through Oct. 5, 2024

WHERE: Coral Springs Museum of Art, 2855 Coral Springs Drive

COST: Free

INFORMATION: Call 954-340-5000, email museuminfo@coralsprings.org or visit coralspringsmuseum.org.

It was at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, and she was struck by how many audience members related to the main character — a man who grew up without his father in his life. Now, Rodriguez gets to return to the Broward Center on July 26-27 for the full production of “Seeking,” a new play by Darius V. Daughtry.

“It provided another place of healing and a connection for [the audience]. I was able to see firsthand just from us reading the play to people how much it moved them,” Rodriguez said.

“Seeking” follows the journey of a young musician who receives a large sum of money after the death of his absent father. With his world changing, the musician discovers the type of person he wants to be and whether he can forgive his father. The play is produced by Daughtry’s Art Prevails Project, a South Florida-based performing and literary arts organization.

Rodriguez frequently volunteers and teaches art for Art Prevails, having become involved with the nonprofit group when she auditioned for “Seeking” about three years ago.

“I’ve had such an amazing time working on this show. We are a team of just such kind and brilliant Black artists,” Rodriguez said. “I think that being able to work with Darius [Daughtry] as a playwright and as our director, it really cultivates a space for us to try new things.”

Daughtry, founder and director of Art Prevails, said the play is partially autobiographical and explores how events can impact people differently as they get older. Like Rodriguez, he also recalled that reading in 2022 and how audience members of different backgrounds resonated with the story and characters.

“This show is honest, and sometimes in art or in life, and more so in life, we are not very honest. Even with ourselves, right? Most of the time we’re not honest with ourselves,” Daughtry said. “I think this particular show is all about honesty and about the characters. Maybe they might not have started off honest, but finding moments of honesty with themselves and with each other is one of the appropriate through lines with the entire show.”

Xaire Goodridge, who plays the lead in the local, all-Black cast production, said he was inspired to work on “Seeking” because of his strong relationship with Daughtry and his own resemblance to the main character.

“I’m a musician myself, someone who has strong ties to his mother and his grandmother,” said Goodridge, who has known Daughtry for more than 10 years. “The play revolves around my character and opens up with him working on his music while his family was at his father’s funeral.

“Seeing as how I grew up without my father, it’s been a challenging experience, because there are a lot of different interactions where I have to tap into something that, in the past, I tried to avoid.”

“Seeking” is part of the Broward Center’s Arts for Action: Black Voices program, which uses the arts to amplify diverse voices. Daughtry has previously worked with the Broward Center for its Student Enrichment through the Arts program and Art Prevail’s annual series “The Happening: A Theatrical Mixtape.”

Jan Goodheart, the center’s vice president of external affairs, hopes to continue working with Daughtry and Art Prevails.

“Our work with Darius so far has all been outstanding. Darius produces original work that is thought-provoking, very engaging and always leaves audiences really feeling inspired,” Goodheart said. “He’s a really skillful storyteller and has a great gift for making his stories relatable and relevant to all audiences.”

“Seeking” will have showings at 7 p.m. Friday, July 26, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27. After the evening shows, there will be a reception with beverages and gift bags, as well as a discussion led by Daughtry and the actors.

“‘Seeking’ is about family,” Daughtry added. “It is about the pursuit of one’s dreams. It is about how your past influences and affects your future and your present. It is about relationships.

“It’s about a young man aspiring to be a musician, and all the things that come into play with his pursuit for his dream.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Seeking,” a new play by Darius V. Daughtry

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, July 26; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27

WHERE: Amaturo Theater at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

COST: $30-$50

INFORMATION: 954-462-0222; browardcenter.org

Tickets to witness the battle between defending champion Argentina and Colombia in person at Miami Garden’s Hard Rock Stadium may be too expensive (we’re talking in the thousands and thousands of dollars), but you can soak in some of that fútbol flavor at Aventura Mall this weekend.

In a partnership with Mastercard, the mall is offering an interactive experience that immerses you into all things Copa America through Sunday, July 14. Participate in kicking challenges, play foosball and check out displays of team jerseys. There’s also official signed merchandise from superstar Lionel Messi, who’s playing the final as Argentina’s team captain then is set to return to our very own Inter Miami CF.

“Since the final game for Copa America is going to be hosted at Hard Rock Stadium, Aventura is the perfect location,” said Emily Goiricelaya, with RockOrange public relations. “The proximity is ideal for people to celebrate.”

She said the activation features “a kicking zone, games like foosball and table soccer, and several picture-perfect moments with the jerseys of the countries participating in the tournament.”

The Copa America — the world’s oldest national team tournament — is organized every four years by South American football federation CONMEBOL. The tournament’s CONMEBOL Copa America trophy was at the mall from July 6-8, so guests could take photos with it.

And on Friday, July 12, fans can meet retired Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron from 5 to 6 p.m. Veron was in the 2007 Copa America tournament that was played in Venezuela.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Mastercard Soccer Experience

WHEN: Through Sunday, July 14

WHERE: Lower Level, near Bloomingdale’s, at Aventura Mall, 19501 Biscayne Blvd.

COST: Free

INFORMATION: aventuramall.com/happenings-events/