Montego Bay Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Montego Bay, St. James, Cornwall, Jamaica)

A full roster of annual festivals and events are staged in Montego Bay each year, providing tourists with extra layers of culture and entertainment to enhance their visit. Several music festivals are on the agenda, most of which celebrate Bob Marley and reggae music.

Beyond this, there are several other things to do throughout the year, such as watching the yacht regatta or taking in a film festival. Local families in Montego Bay rally together to celebrate Jamaican Independence Day, along with Christmas and Easter.

Montego Bay Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Jamaica Jazz Festival - a popular jazz event staged at the beginning of each year in Rose Hall Great House. Features well-known performers from around the world

February

• Bob Marley Week - one of the biggest events of the year, put on by the Bob Marley Foundation. Expect plenty of music and revelry

March

• Spring Break - students from North America flood to Montego Bay for Spring Break parties during part of February and all of March

April

• Easter Regatta - a great event for yacht enthusiasts. Dozens of luxury yachts arrive in the harbour for this event

May

• Labour Day - May 23rd, includes more labour than most Labour Days, as community groups band together to complete various community service projects

June

• Ocho Rios Jazz Festival - actually held up the coast in Ocho Rios, kicks off a summer of music festivals in Montego Bay. Performers hail from the Caribbean as well as the US and Europe

July

• Reggae Sumfest - popular music festival celebrating the legacy of Bob Marley. Begins with a Friday night beach party and continues through the weekend

August

• Emancipation and Independence Celebration - the first week of August sees celebrations of emancipation from slavery, as well as eventual freedom from colonial rule. Features a music competition and plenty of merrymaking

September

• Marlin Tournament - more than 40 years in the running, this tournament features cash prizes and draws enthusiastic crowds in September

October

• World Dominoes Championship - this prestigious event is staffed by some 150 judges. Held at the SunSpree Resort
• Africa Jamfest - celebrates the African roots of music in the Caribbean and features artists from the area and the African continent

November

• Jamerican Film and Music Festival - staged at the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort and featuring independent music and film acts from Jamaica and North America

December

• Christmas Day - December 25th, a major holiday for Jamaicans. Most locals go to church, exchange gifts and join with friends and family for a major feast. Rum cake and gungo peas are specialities