Page 47 - Reggae Festival Guide Magazine 2018

ere at the Reggae Festival Guide, in the activities kids love. Increasingly,

we’ve really been enjoying family- festivals seem to offer a variation of arts

friendly festivals and festivals and crafts, face painting, games, group

H with offerings for the youngest music activities, yoga, storytelling, dancing
rockers among us. Our publisher Kaati and more, making the overall festival

has a granddaughter of toddler age and I experience a pleasant family-oriented vibe

myself have two young daughters, inspiring that is much appreciated.

us to especially take notice while on the The reasons motivating this family-friendly
festival circuit. And it seems we’re not shift are many. On a basic level, in order

alone. Pregnant mother goddesses with for parents to enjoy themselves, the kids

painted bellies to parents with their kids in need to be stimulated, kept busy and have

wagons in tow – people want to share their fun with age-appropriate activities and

love of reggae music, as well as the festival opportunities to burn that endless energy
experience, with their kids.
they always seem to have. More holistically,

From the Uppsala Reggae Festival in Uppsala, a vision for many reggae festivals is to
Sweden, to the LB27 Reggae Camp in Cegléd, exemplify the core tenets of reggae.

Hungary, to the Durham Caribbean Festival For example, Sierra Nevada World Music

in Ajax, Ontario, to the Island Reggae Festival Festival (SNWMF) in Boonville, CA, is

in San Jose, CA, festivals worldwide are “dedicated to nurturing a world family
answering the call, making reggae festivals peacefully united in celebration of the

safe and fun for fans of all ages. At some

festivals, this may mean strict rules against universal spirit of music… and committed to
ensuring that the festival be family friendly
use of drugs or alcohol. Some adult-oriented – a place where youth can be exposed to
festivals, like Jamaica’s biggest reggae

festival, Reggae Sumfest, has one solution the beauty of many cultures celebrating
together and experience that our similarities
for the thousands of fans who travel from

all over the world: all-inclusive hotels that are greater than our differences.”

provide babysitting and kid’s programs. Likewise, the Positive Vibration Festival of
Other festivals might focus energy and Reggae in Liverpool, U.K., states, “Reggae

funds into making the facilities and grounds uplifts and inspires people of all ages,

as clean and accessible as possible. Many including children and young people. With

festivals offer free admission to kids under this in mind, we host a number of creative,

a certain age, making it financially possible educational and dance workshops for
for the whole family to attend. And most, children, young people and families” – which

we’ve observed, offer some set of activities, includes an arts and crafts competition,

program or area especially for the youth. participatory arts, soft-play activities,

capoeira classes and special introductory
In addition to expanding your children’s

awareness of reggae as a genre and giving dub poetry workshops.

them lasting memories of reggae legends The Ziontific Summer Solstice Music Fest
live on stage, you can also let them indulge in Russell, MA, frequently falls on Father’s

Reggae Festival guide 2018 47