MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — The Magnum Street Dance made a successful return to Montego Bay in St James on Monday night as patrons packed the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, eager to experience a night of entertainment provided by the Reggae Sumfest team.

It followed the equally successful Family Fun Day on Sunday which kicked off Reggae Sumfest’s week of events which will culminate with the stage shows on Friday and Saturday.

At Monday’s street dance, an impressive lineup of deejays kept the crowd enthralled all night long, setting the perfect atmosphere with selections from Jamaican music legends like Barrington Levy, Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, and Sizzla. The vibe was pure dancehall, with a diverse and energetic crowd including the standard ‘nutsy’ and ‘horn man’ who ensured that the atmosphere was eclectic.

Montego Bay resident Shanae Cameron says she had been anticipating the event since February.

“I’ve been waiting for this event for months. When I heard about it in February, I told myself, ‘It nah miss me,’” she laughed.

Attending with three friends, Cameron expressed her gratitude to the Reggae Sumfest team for the free event.

“I really appreciate Reggae Sumfest for adding this to their calendar. We can just dress up and come out for a good time. I love that for us.”

Sponsors Sunshine Snacks also praised the event, emphasising its commitment to supporting authentic Jamaican culture and philanthropy.

“The beauty of Reggae Sumfest is that it is authentically Jamaican, and at Sunshine Snacks, we are attracted to everything Jamaican. We love the people, the vibe, the food, and, of course, the music, and you can get all of that at this event. There is literally no other event like it anywhere else in the world,” said Jorja Clark, brand manager.

She added, “I have been coming to Sumfest for years, and I can tell you that this event has definitely grown from strength to strength. If you look at the turnout this year, you will see just that—we have everybody in the crowd. I just want to say kudos to Reggae Sumfest. You guys have been putting in the work, and it has been paying off.”

Title sponsors Magnum echoed these sentiments, highlighting the community support and the event’s significance.

“We are excited to see so many people out at the Magnum Street Dance. We love when the event is free—in keeping with the spirit of giving back—and it is well supported by the community. Magnum is a brand that supports dancehall wholeheartedly, and street dances are a core part of that. So this is one of those events that we take pride in participating in,” said Brand Manager Brandon Wallace.

He continued, “Not everyone will be able to experience Festival Night One or two, and so the Street Dance is where the community comes to get a taste of the Sumfest experience. You can just bring your family and friends and come and experience the dancehall that we love and support.”

The street dance was a sure hit among patrons, who stayed at the venue until the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Trippple X, the event’s host, kept the crowd entertained as he brought his usual high energy to the stage.

Guest performer Laden delivered a captivating set which included hits like ‘Time To Shine’, ‘Really Like You’, and ‘Working Hard’.

The entertainer said he was elated to perform in front of his Montego Bay fan base and thanked the Reggae Sumfest team for the opportunity.

“When I got the call from Reggae Sumfest about performing at the street dance, I was excited and overjoyed. I just want to say thanks for this opportunity, and I am looking forward to one day returning to the festival’s main stage.”