Dream Weekend organisers still dreaming

Having set June 15 as their decision day regarding the fate of Dream Weekend 2020, the organisers will spend the next four weeks agonising over the process, even as they have robust discussions at the government level and listen keenly to feedback.

On Tuesday, the event promoters, Dream Entertainment, advised their 'Dreamers' via social media that before they can move forward, there are "two major hurdles that are totally out of the control of Dream Entertainment" that must be overcome. These are the greenlight for the staging of events and the reopening of the ports of entry. On March 11, the Jamaican Government stopped issuing permits for entertainment events and even revoked those which were already issued.

Currently, the country's borders are open for controlled re-entry only.

"A big part of our decision will be based on our discussion with the Government and local authorities about what's safe to happen and when," Kamal Bankay, director of public relations for Dream Entertainment, told THE STAR. "Those things will inform the first level of decision that we have to make. And then, we will obviously be taking patron feedback as well, because everybody is a stakeholder."

Dream Weekend is the annual, week-long summer fest of escapism and intense revelry, which sees thousands of locals and visitors flock to the seaside town of Negril to indulge in marquee events Twisted Spiritz, Daydreams, Yush, Wet 'n' Wild, World Vibes, Mawnin After, Celebrity Playground, Igloo, and Dream J'Ouvert.

We have a responsibility

Now in its 12th staging, Dream Weekend is hailed as the ultimate party experience and the Dreamers, Bankay confirmed, have already been cashing in on deals.

"The reality is that we have already sold a bunch of tickets and we have a responsibility, not only to our patrons, but also to our stakeholders. There are many vendors in Negril, for example, for whom Dream Weekend helps to send their kids back to school," he said of the August event. "This is not a decision that we take lightly."

The Dream Entertainment statement noted: "Based on where we are in the year, we remain optimistic of a 2020 staging. That said, we recognise the need for patrons to plan ahead for travel and accommodation, with health and safety being the top priorities at this time. It is primarily for this reason we have set a deadline for no later than June 15, 2020, to make a final decision on whether to proceed on August 5-9, 2020, or postpone Dream Weekend to a later date."