Jamaica Woodland Festival to ‘bring families together’

The organisers of the inaugural Jamaica Woodland Festival have a firm conviction that their festival experience can bring families together for a unique and unforgettable experience in paradise during the Easter weekend of 2025.

“We will be hosting the festival in the Ocho Rios area of St Ann, so the business and local community including hoteliers in the resort town, are equally excited about this event,” David Anderson, founder, event director and logistics manager of the Jamaica Woodland Festival, said.

“With camping as an element of this experience, the event will bring families together for a full day-and-night experience in a pristine, natural environment,” he added, noting that it will be the ideal place for families to be engaged in multiple activities.

During the day there will be cultural presentations, kids’ villages, and obstacle courses involving family participation.

The organisers said after the day’s events, families will then be able to camp out at the venue during the night. Visitors will be encouraged to bring and pitch their own pre-equipped tents. They can also rent a pre-pitched tent with basic amenities from the organisers, for a hassle-free experience.

“They can also upgrade to our luxurious tent, featuring comfortable beds, furniture, and other amenities. There will be shared facilities; access to shared bathrooms, showers, and changing areas. Plus, there will be 24-hour security, ensuring your safety and peace of mind,” Anderson said.

Campers and festival goers will be entertained by a diverse line-up of local and international artistes and top sound systems.

“We have something for everyone, for parents looking for a fun and safe festival experience with activities for children. Foodies can experience authentic Jamaican cuisine, nature enthusiasts can enjoy outdoor activities and connect with nature in an environmentally responsible way,” Anderson said.

The organisers hope to attract more than 10,000 patrons to the event, and they have already engaged various stakeholders and government agencies ,such as the Social Development Commission, Rural Agricultural Development Authority, and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to make the event a reality.

“This is a totally Jamaican event, and it will be held in close proximity to Ocho Rios town centre and a few minutes from where cruise ships dock in the parish. Part of the operational plan is to liaise with the UDC to set up parking areas and shuttle people into the event, to ensure guaranteed and effective traffic management and reduce traffic flow,” he said.

THE VISION

Anderson believes that the event will provide a multimillion-dollar boost to the tourism sector and local economy as well, including the small players who are often neglected.

“We have over 900 registered craft vendors from St Ann who are interested in being on board to help create that unique Jamaican experience,” he said.

The craft market presidents are heavily involved in this event. The hoteliers, Airbnb owners, the craft market vendors, local businesses and event suppliers are excited about the prospects.

The festival’s planning committee includes Greg ‘Ras Manga’ McCaw, who is known for his work at Rebel Salute and Reggae Food international. He will play a major role in how the cuisine is presented to the public.

“We’re inviting international and local chefs to be at this event. The Jamaica Woodland Festival will carry serious cultural impact in terms of the layout across the spectrum of stalls, the adherence to international food standards of cleanliness and the wide range of dishes, drawing from our heritage: Rastafarian, African, Chinese, Indian and Maroon. The food will be multicultural, oneness out of the many...the aesthetic, poetry, art will be manifested in the festival,” McCaw said.

As it relates to specifics, he said festival goers can expect a wide range of authentic Jamaica cuisines to choose from.

Patrons can expect an ital stew, which McCaw dubbed a ‘reparation stew’, and a drink called Stepping Razor that is hot and cold in its chemistry.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com