Pep up your Wednesday with the hot salsa beat as the first ever Caribbean Festival gets under way on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Coastal Carolina University.

"It's an island ting!" is free and open to the public and starts at 11:30 a.m. with the beat of the Caribbean Steel Drum Band on the Student Center Deck. Food, entertainment and vendors will continue until 2:30 p.m. The rain date is Oct. 15.

In addition to the steel drum band, entertainment will include Mystic Vibrations, a reggae band from Columbia comprised of Lacomas Chapman on drums, Bob Guider on bass, Mark Guy on keyboard and Ric Williams, guitarist and lead vocalist.

Food vendors will include the Sugar Shak and Jimmy's Caribbean Style, and featured vendors will be: 10,000 Villages, Sounds Familiar, Reggae Vibes, Reflections African Jewelry and Accessory Lady.

Student groups will also be displaying educational information on selected islands, including the Grand Cayman Islands, Haiti, St. Martin, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and others.

The festival is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Services. For more information, call 349-2863 or e-mail breaves@coastal.edu.