It all started in 2009… but actually did it?

What’s the true history of the most amazing party and music festival in Jamaica?

During the early 2000s the promoters of what is now Dream Weekend started doing signature events in Negril for the Emancipation/Independence celebration. The biggest party in Negril – Xtreme Wet ‘N’ Wild along with YUSH and Twisted Spiritz were actually all a part of ATI (Appleton Treasure Island). Daydreams was on RTI weekend (Red Stripe Temptation Island) while Smirnoff Xclusive was a part of the Smirnoff Weekend.

Circa 2009 a historic meeting was held with the promoters of Xtreme Wet ‘N’ Wild, Daydreams, Yush, Twisted Spiritz, Beer Vibes and Exclusive. There was a problem that begged a solution, people wanted to attend the best events in Negril but they were each a part of three completely different experiences. Patrons were known to be buying two, sometimes three armbands to attend these highly sought after events and ultimately there was confusion with patrons coming from overseas as to what exactly they were to buy into and many people were left disappointed.

With a not-so-quick huddle, Scott Dunn, Pj Wright, Gregory Wright, Pierre Goubault, Carlos Phillpotts, Paul Matthews, Ron Burke, Solomon Sharpe, Stephen Price, Philip Palmer, Scott Dunn, Jermaine Brown, Garth Walker, Deane Shepherd, Carrie ‘Quizz’ Sigurdson, Kamal Bankay and Matthew Samuda all came together to form THE DREAM TEAM. They decided to bring the best entertainment together and give the people exactly what they were craving – The best events on one armband – a DREAM WEEKEND!!!

Where was Wildsides???

Arguably one of the most popular events that started the ATI (Absolute Temptation Island) movement back in 2000 was offered a headlining position on the inaugural staging of Dream Weekend. There was an agreement and then Wildsides reneged on it and went back with the RTI gang. Red Stripe, the title sponsors, and the “R” in RTI pulled out and decided to sponsor the newly formed Dream Weekend leaving RTI to rebrand as ATI with the remaining parties in Negril that were not on Dream Weekend.

Dream Weekend launched on the Spanish Court rooftop pool with 7 events, Xtreme Wet ‘N’ Wild, Daydreams, Yush, Twisted Spiritz, Beer Vibes, Absinthe and Smirnoff Xclusive including Margaritaville days and Jungle nights with a super-discounted early bird price of $7000. Vybz Kartel did the first set of Dubs for Dream that turned into campaign songs and radio ads ‘Killing ATI’ as the great matchup between DREAM and ATI mimicked a political campaign (insert campaign slogan DREAM OR DIE).

The Dream Weekend launch party in 2009 was at the NHT parking lot rooftop was billed as the biggest launch party in the history of parties in Jamaica and delivered as 5,000 people showed up and there was limited entry. Additionally, there was a ‘one night only’ special that night for early bird tickets. The tickets were completely sold out in 2 hours!

And the rest as

they say is history…

This was the beginning of the biggest and best party series in the history of Jamaica. We can all still experience the magic in Negril on July 28 to August 1st, 2016. Now Appleton Special Dream Weekend has expanded to 9 events over 5 days, adding a massive concert (Dream Live), IGLOO the biggest cooler party in the Caribbean and our soca infused paint party (Dream J’ouvert) to an already stellar line-up. It’s the best value for money and best entertainment in the Caribbean.