University student Jaheem Gayle and his friends were so caught up in the euphoria of Skippa’s performance at Allure: Safari Escape last Thursday night at Plantation Cove, that he lost his car key in excitement.

Luckily, one of his friends found it and Gayle breathed a sigh of relief.

It was his first time seeing Skippa performing and the second-year Biochemistry student knew every song word for word.

“The man have the dancehall locked. I had to be here to see his performance,’ said Gayle, who also shared that it was his first time attending Best Weekend Ever.

A section of the crowd at Allure: Safari Escape.

Allure: Safari Escape transformed Plantation Cove into a playground of music and fashion, with Skippa delivering songs that the new generation of music lovers found favour with.

From the WYFL rhythm infused WYFL, to Glocks and Chips, Detox and the fiery street anthem Dead Opps, Skippa had the younger demographic of patrons soaking up his songs.

The second event on the Best Weekend Ever 2026 itinerary followed the Independence Day staging of Rise and Toast earlier that day, shifting the mood from daytime nostalgia to an after-dark affair built around the event’s Safari Chic theme. Allure was designed as a lush safari-inspired experience, pairing immersive décor with food, cocktails, music and fashion.

Patrons embraced the dress code with enthusiasm, arriving in a mix of animal prints, earthy tones, resort-inspired silhouettes and statement pieces that brought their individual interpretations of safari chic to life.

Smirnoff added its own flavour to the evening, connecting with patrons throughout the experience as the brand continued its presence across the Best Weekend Ever Independence weekend celebrations.

Friends, Yanika Hamer and Afiya Cunningham made Allure: Safari Escape their first stop on the Best Weekend Ever roster of parties

For Nadine Hylton, Guinness and Spirits Brand Manager, the partnership presented another opportunity for Smirnoff to meet consumers within one of the moments that define Jamaica’s summer entertainment calendar.

“Allure has such a distinct personality within Best Weekend Ever. From the fashion to the décor and the music, patrons really commit to the experience, and that gives Smirnoff an opportunity to show up in a way that feels natural to how they are already celebrating. For us, it is about adding to those moments, creating memorable experiences and, importantly, encouraging everyone to enjoy them responsibly,” Hylton told Observer Online.