Reggae Sumfest

Reggae Sumfest, proudly claiming to be “Jamaica’s Greatest” and “The World’s Best” reggae festival, takes place in July of this year. The festival is celebrated in Montego Bay, Jamaica and (oddly enough) New York City. Negril Village in Lower Manhattan is “set to come alive on June 4th as [the] festival rolls into the Big Apple for the annual New York kickoff. I would love to see the Rastafarians running around Lower Manhattan in dreads and Bob Marley t-shirts. The festival draws more than 30,000 people to the island of Jamaica each year, to experience the best dancehall, reggae, R&B and hip hop performers from around the world, along with offering mouthwatering Jamaican cuisine and native arts and crafts.

You can bring a portable chair or a blanket, but leave your coolers and food at home.

The Sumfest 2008 will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica this year from July 13-19. On July 13, the party gets underway with a beach party, featuring Classique and Danger Zone Records. The main events are held at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay.

Tickets

Tickets are available from the Official Sumfest Website, as well as through various tour operators who will sell inclusive packages for the festival. On the island, tickets may be purchased from various ticket outlets. Cash accepted in all locations, and some locations will accept all major credit cards.

Getting There

The festival is held at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay. The entrance to the festival is on Howard Cook Boulevard. Some parking is available on site for designated ticket holders while additional parking is available in nearby parking lots. If you’re traveling from Kingston or Ocho Rios, shuttle service will be provided to and from the festival by Knutsford Express. The Caribbean Logue has detailed information on Flights to Jamaica.