From the ultimate night of feting on the beach to a climax LATE in the night, BEST WEEKEND EVER was undeniably the most epic experience as thousands descended into Ocho Rios for an unforgettable escape to paradise.
Six events were strategically scheduled over the course of four days, between August 4 to 7, attracting loads of international partygoers and locals to experience the best in entertainment, luxury aesthetics and indulge in fine cuisine.
I Love Soca Jamaica (ILS) set the tone for the escape. For the love of aesthetics, event organizer Andrew Bellamy sure provided a walkthrough of a distillery of art – a fan favorite for ILS fans who wished to snap that picture-perfect moment. The theme gave “on the beach” and based on feedback, it sure was a WIN! Soca enthusiasts got their fill from a slew of top selectors along with a performance from Viking Ding Dong out of Trinidad and an ever-energetic performance from Jamaican dancehall artiste LaaLee. From food, liquor, and the occasional oversized floating balls passing overhead, ILS once again hit the mark for its first staging on the beach.
Day two jumped off with the ultra-premium, fun-filled breakfast brunch event, DayBreak which complimented the eve of Independence Day – Jamaica 61. To commemorate the historic season, patrons were treated to a ‘taste of Jamaica’ with dishes such as ackee and saltfish, fried plantains, callaloo, peppered shrimp, escoveitch fish, bammy, roti, and fried breadfruits. The juggling was spectacular for patrons as DJs Coppershot, Ricky Platinum, Fyahman, and Kryptic provided endless entertainment.
It was then time for Milk and Honey. This stylish pink and white-themed event definitely gets a 10/10 for its timely dress code – as it’s Barbie season and the ladies certainly came out dressed for it. A couple of Jamaica’s most popular DJs, Brush1, DJ Franco, Creep and JR from Chromatic and Ricky Platinum, kept the crowd moving all night as the Caribbean culture and the NYC lifestyle collided through both music and luxury. The Johnnie Walker-sponsored event brought out the bold and the very stylish who aced the fashion test.
On Independence Day, Puerto Seco Beach was not only bright due to the sun but it was lit up by the countless beach baddies who splashed and twerked to the rhythmic entertainment that Zimi Seh Beach provided. It was exhilarating, liquor-filled, and nothing short of the best juggling from Ricky Platinum and the A-Team.
In the night, Allure brought out the fireworks and a ‘banga’ performance from the “4th Genna boss”, Aidonia who never fails in delivering to his audience. The mightyful sound of the deejay roared through Pearly Beach as patrons locked in and sang tune for tune from “Banga, Banga” to “Fresh Drop”, the lyrical maestro put a cap on a night dubbed the Tropical Riviera experience.
And to round off the most awesome weekend of events, Late Check Out provided the ultimate climax. From girls aligning with the theme of being “Bare as you dare” rocking the skimpiest swimsuits to the highly anticipated performance from Tommy Lee; patrons couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the night.
Tommy Lee, to the surprise of many, brought out Skeng on stage in what some would describe as a sort of unity that is transcending the dancehall arena. Entertainment wasn’t short, as the two combined left an impact on the pumped audience that gave a 10/10 stamp of approval.
The deejays did not disappoint and neither did the patrons as they created their own entertainment.
All in all, the patrons have spoken and wish to “run it back” next year as it was the BEST Weekend Ever for 2023 – the perfect way to celebrate Jamaica’s 61 years of Independence.
