Court Street will be unified in an afternoon of food, fun and fellowship during a pre-cup match celebration this Sunday.

Along with live fashion and hair shows, food vendors and face painting — popular gospel and recording artist Troy Anthony will perform at Culture Fest.

The event will be put on by organisers 'UP' (Uplifting community, family and businesses), formerly known as the Uptown Market Association.

It is expected to uplift and inspire the community to live more positive lives, said Vice-chair Gina Spence Farmer.

"I can definitely assure you when people leave here on Sunday they will be uplifted and filled with some hope. That's the whole objective.

"All the musicians and the artists are going to be bringing the positive. I feel the only way to counter the negative is to drown it with the positive.

"Those speakers are going to be pumping through the entire community. And Troy Anthony, will be sharing his faith and how he made it through his experience," she said.

The event will also be a boost to local businesses and will give clothing stores and hair and nail salons an opportunity to grow their client base.

There will be performances from the Somerset Youth Centre, Adrian Jones, Sea Breeze Salsa Dancers and dance group Split Personality.

The Gombeys, Sherwin Lee from New Creation Worship Centre, and some middle schoolchildren who have written a piece about respect will also perform, Mrs. Spence-Farmer said.

"So there is going to be a lot of messages woven into the activities," she said. "It's timely, we know what this community has faced over the last year."

"If we are not bringing any positive messages, positive experiences, then we can't complain about the negative."

But the highlight of the night will still be a performance by Troy Anthony, who is hopeful his spiritual message can reach some of the Island's youth.

The musician said: "I am looking forward to a good turn out I am looking forward to a good response from the people.

"I do realise we are in a crisis right now and any way I can contribute is great to be able to help out my people. "

Mr. Anthony admits he "came from the streets" and went through many of the same tribulations as the young people today.

But the 35-year-old turned his life around when his daughter was born in 1999.

He said: "I reached a point in my life when I was becoming a father I was expecting my first child and I knew I had to give her a better life than what I was living at the time, so I needed answers as to 'what can I do to make me a better person'.

"I just went on a journey of finding these questions that led me to Christ. I was steadfast, I was diligent and I constantly looking for answers because on the other side of not finding the answers I was just going to give up.

"I think that is what a lot of young people are doing right now, giving up because they don't have the answers," Mr. Anthony said.

He will be singing songs including 'Next Generation' and 'The Grave is too Late' and wants to encourage others to live a God-driven life.

He said: "You have to do it Christ's way, you have to do it the King's way. You cannot do it your own way, that's when destruction comes.

"You may do it your own way and that might get you by in life, that is just in this life. What is going to happen on the other side of that?

"I am about being the mail person that says I am delivering the mail, whether you open it and read it and proceed with it is totally up to you."

The event, sponsored by the Department of Tourism and Corporation of Hamilton, will take place on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Court Street.

It will take place in Bullshead car park if it is raining.