Rain no nightmare at Daydreams

The upscale all-white party Daydreams has been going on from its start at Solaris Estate, St Thomas, and eventually in Ocho Rios, for approximately 12 years. Daydreams' organisers Wright Image Entertainment, have also expanded its market to Florida, during Easter, for the past four years.

Daydreams is known to attract a wide audience, no matter the venue, and it was no different for Daydreams, Dream Weekend 2018, as thousands of men and women dressed in variants of white, sparkling outfits turned up at Wonderland, Negril, over the weekend. This was despite heavy rains, which left the grounds muddy and difficult to navigate - obviously not the best setting for the colour theme. PJ Wright, the man behind Daydreams, told The Gleaner that "patrons of Daydreams have displayed their loyalty over the years by sticking to the dress code of all-white, especially because they want to see the theme come to life".

The promoter said Daydreams remains one of the two most supported Dream Weekend parties year after year. So although patrons complain about the rain affecting their plans to arrive early and leave late, it has become a natural element of the event's atmosphere. "Over the years, staging Daydreams in Negril, we always expect rain, so we prepare as best as possible so that the patrons' experience is not affected," said Wright.

"I can honestly say that all the disc jockeys delivered for our patrons, although the showers dampened spirits. The DJs were well-appointed and raised it to the next level."

Four hours of rain

The event started at 2 p.m. as scheduled, a few patrons outfitted with umbrellas before any signs that there would be a downpour. And, not long after, they were forced to use them for cover. More than four hours of rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, threatened to bring the party to a standstill. But with the music at near-deafening levels, nothing stopped persons from dancing in the mud-spattered grass. Female patrons had no choice but to tie their long, elegant outfits at waist height, while their male partners acted as the support to stand up and dance to the non-stop entertainment stylings of DJ Crazy Neil and the talented men of Coppershot Sound. Renaissance's Jazzy T also added to the line-up of skilled disc jockeys with his set of '90s dancehall and reggae hits, plus Rise to the Occasion, Solid As A Rock and Just One of Those Days by Sizzla, among others.

As soon as the weather calmed at about 8 p.m, partygoers gathered at the food tents and bars to exploit the final hour of Daydreams. It actually continued until 10 p.m. to give persons extra time to enjoy what promoters described as a "blissful" day three of Dream Weekend 2018.