MONTEGO BAY, St James – Looking to build on the success of MoBay Reggae Nights, the organisers of the monthly Sunday evening event are now considering spreading their wings outside the parish.

This was revealed by Andre “Peanut” Brown, one half of the promotion team which includes Dwight Crawford, councillor for the Montego West Division in St James.

MoBay Reggae Nights returned to entertainment calendar late last year aimed at providing not only residents, but visitors with a taste of local entertainment, food, cuisine and other cultural experiences.

Brown explained that based on the responses they received, they are now looking at the summer period later this year in terms of expansion, with another western location under consideration.

“We may look at May, the summer months may be ideal,” he said about the plans. “I think we have our eyes set on Negril,” he added.

Negril, another tourism area, is expected to further allow for the linking of the tourism and local environments, according to the promoter.

“With everything you have to start off in baby steps, and so we are growing to where we’re going to expand to different areas with the same initiative of bridging the gap with tourism and the local businesses, he stated.

“The expansion plan, it encapsulates all of that which we are going to refine to really grow the product,” he explained.

Crawford expressed his joy at the reception the event has been getting since the first event was staged in November.

“To say that Reggae Nights has been more than I expected would be a little untrue. Reggae Nights has been what I expected, it has been for the people. The people are receiving it well,” he said.

“You have some people who [had] lost the belief that you could come into a space, a communal space like Harmony Beach Park, which is downtown Montego Bay, and enjoy that kind of event without harassment, good energy, good vibe and everything good that represents Jamaica,” he shared.

Brown concurred.

“We couldn’t ask for more. Montego Bay citizens, they are turning up, the hotels are turning up, corporate Jamaica is turning up, and this is what this event was really meant to be,” he said.