2024 Fete Recap

Carnival in Jamaica 2024 has finally come to a close, with Soca Camp Carnival Cooldown being our FINAL fete. I think it's time to get into the events I attended, my favorite fetes of the season and how to prepare your fete list for next year (don't worry we'll revisit this).

Starting with MY fete list, as expected I took "Right Down till Wi Lie Dung" serious yet again by attending over 13 fetes this season.

In no particular order I attended:

• B4 Carnival

• Soca City

• Socaverse

• Soca Rush

• Night Carnival

• Sunn Up

• Soca Therapy

• Soca Camp

• Frenchmen Lyme series

• Friday Zess: Big Bad Soca

• Frenchmen: Rise Up

• I Love Soca

• Tabanca Tuesdays

• Soca By Di Tree

• Illuminate

• GenXS J'ouvert

• Sunrise Breakfast Party

• XS Street

• AfroSocaJam

• XS Sunset

• Soca Camp: Carnival Cooldown

Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed every fete I attended IMMENSELY but some of them were just absolute perfection to me. Special mention to:

• Sunn Up - Second year attending and I haven't been disappointed. A breakfast party that is also a WET FETE??? I’m forever hooked. Just wished we got a performance again.

• Soca Therapy - A perfect blend of soca from ALL islands (big up Dj Quest868) and the dancey dancehall the vibes were immaculate all night. 

• Soca Camp -  The location, easy access to the bar, the set up and the dj sets from start to finish was perfection yet again. It just felt like coming home.

• Frenchmen: Rise Up - We NEED more soca beach fetes again, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a cooler fete but making it food inclusive with a solid line up like that? Frenchmen will always get my money when it comes to Rise Up (anything really)

• Soca By Di Tree - This year was my first SBDT but I know it won't be my last. BYOB is always a great concept and I got free chaser, so that surprising quirk along with the excellence that was the juggling that night the only way I can think to describe this small fete is Purists Paradise.

• ILLUMINATE - FETE OF THE SEASON TWO YEARS RUNNING!!!! Yet again, great memorabilia with the cups and glasses, the sets were great but the real winner was DRINKS INCLUSIVE  AAAANNNNDDDD A STAGE CROSSING?!?!?!. Mical Teja?!?!?! It was pure vibes. Perfect mixture of great music, great company and a great experience.

• SunRumFun - I wasn’t even there but the reviews I got said it was TOOOOO GOOD and I was hooked on those IG stories until they docked. A bit of food and drinks inclusive on a boat? We definitely need more boat parties.

Personally, I believe you don't have to go to ALL the events but should be able to experience a little of everything. Like one regular fete, a beach/boat party, drinks/cooler inclusive, a concert, j’ouvert, a breakfast party and a mini road march. I’m proud to say I experienced a little of everything and advise saving up and putting aside money early, to cop early bird tickets the second they drop to avoid the headache of scrambling for tickets. I also advise planning your outfits in advance. But yk we’re gonna have this discourse again February/March 2025 as a reminder to get your shit together in order to have a seamless carnival experience. 

With that being said, @ me on Twitter or in your IG story so we can talk about what fetes you enjoyed, looking forward to or even what you want to make a return (COCOA J’OUVERT PLEASE COME BACK). Until next time