How to Party Well in Jamaica

One way to experience the great sense of unity and pride of the Jamaican people is to get involved in the party scene. 

Barring extreme weather conditions that may cause some postponement, the Jamaican festival calendar is jam-packed, and music is generally at the heart of it.

Food is also a major part of any celebration, including the Jamaican festivals, and there is even a Jamaican dish called the "festival".

Summer is the time when people head to the beach and everywhere barbecue grills are fired up for all who are ready for some summer fun. Jamaica, the party capital of the Caribbean, is no different, as patrons enjoy reggae and dancehall blasting from giant speakers until the wee hours of the night, reveling in the pounding music, risqué dancing, and abundant fare.

Showcasing the island’s food is the Food and Drink Festival in late October, a week-long event that normally draws crowds from around the world, and should not be missed. Like other international food festivals, it mixes fine wine with great food and live entertainment.

Montego Bay is the epicenter of entertainment in Jamaica and this is where most people will end up, both tourists and Jamaicans alike. There are open-air entertainment venues, live music, and block parties that start late and end early–early in the morning that is. Street parties are well-attended and the food stands well-patronized. Beach parties are also quite popular and you can look for the best of the best.

Even Emancipation Day and Independence Day in early August represent a week of non-stop partying for some. And, of course, International Reggae Day is a blowout musical festival in Jamaica. On July 1st, there are 24 hours of reggae-infused celebrations of Jamaican music in Kingston. You will also find lectures on the life of reggae icon, Bob Marley; talent shows and searches; workshops; and a general immersion into the reggae genre. This concert is broadcast live all over the world.

The Jamaican brand of celebration and having a good time is entrenched into the world's psyche, with Jamaican festivals held all over in the summer months, in places from as far as Japan to the U.S. and Canada.

The biggest event on the reggae/dancehall calendar is the annual Reggae Sumfest, which will be held this year from July 16th-22nd. Reggae Sumfest is just one of the many events in Jamaica in 2017 causing a lot of buzz and excitement.

Reggae Sumfest showcases all the popular dancehall and reggae artistes and several international artists, too, admittedly not playing the reggae genre but willing to be a part of the event.

Everyone has a good time enjoying the music and tourists and locals happily mingle with each other. The event is generally safe, but as always, be aware of your surroundings and avoid ostentatious jewelry in the crush of wall-to-wall people.

The locals call Sumfest “the greatest show on earth” without any sense of exaggeration, as nobody parties harder than a Jamaican at Reggae Sumfest! Initially a replacement for Reggae Sunsplash, it has more than exceeded the expectations of many, and the energy has been described as electrifying.

Just bring money for food, a chair, a camera, and comfortable shoes and expect marathon events that can last from sunset to sunrise.

Ticket prices for the long hours of entertainment are astoundingly low, which is all the more reason to join the party. Because without a doubt, Jamaicans know how to party. 

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