DC World Reggae Festival Review

By Mark Lachovsky

In the midst of the center of US political turmoil was a day of music to sooth souls. The inaugural DC World Reggae Festival took place in Washington, DC on August 19, 2018. Taking place in the month of August when both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (TnT) celebrate independence.  The event was put on by Omar Stephenson a Jamaican with experience in putting on a variety of music shows.

The festival venue was an intimate setting held in the parking lot of RFK Stadium. The grounds consisted of a playground for children to enjoy, multiple bars for a selection of refreshments, a large variety of delicious eats and a VIP section. The entire area was easy to navigate and impressive for a first year event.

The title of the event intentionally includes the word “World” as the organizers wanted to create an event that is a melting pot for various Caribbean cultures. While the focus was on reggae from Jamaica, the lineup included artists from Jamaica, TnT, Barbados as well as local Washington area reggae artists. The event was run like a well oiled clock with the unusual and bold move of posting the detailed schedule.

[…]