Put off that trip to Florida. You can dance to reggae and soca in the desert at Beach Road Trip (BRT) Weekend, May 26-28, in Cathedral City.
Try jerked chicken with “festival” (fried dumplings) while dancing to Jamaican American Charly Black, known for his Top-10 hit Party Animal and Kerwin Du Bois of Trinidad (Too Real and Circles), plus a variety of DJs at events called Maui Wowi, Desert Madness, Xtreme Wet N Wild, Glow and Eruption, Jouvert Breakfast Paint Party (think body paint), All White and Memorial Day Splash.
“Jouvert is one of the wild parties, with powder, shaving cream, washable paint, and lots of water,” publicist Denise Dixon says. Weekenders need to be 21 or over. Theme dressing is encouraged. Most events are on sand, so pack your beachwear, plus white options for the All White event.
A north Miami and South Beach nightclub owner, Jamaican-born Hans-Peter Mullings, started BRT Weekend in 2011. Thousands gathered for it in the Los Angeles area last year, as a trial run of taking the partying on the road. This year, Mullings has expanded the lineup to include Greater Palm Springs.
The Maui Wowi event will be held at Moxie Rooftop in downtown Palm Springs. Others will be at Cathedral City’s Town Square Festival Lawn, Park and Hall.
To get terminology straight before going, partygoers are “weekenders” and festival dumplings are pronounced “festi-vaal.” Drinks and food, also including curried chicken plus American options, are free with the price of the event. Expect “grab and go” finger food. One ticket price covers all events.
After Cathedral City, partying moves on to Atlantic City, New Jersey in July, then Key Largo and Islamorada, Florida in November.
Beach Road Trip, May 26-28, www.brtweekend.com.
Soca Singer Kes entertains Weekenders at BRT Weekend 2016, Florida Keys.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRT WEEKEND
Charly Black, known for his Top 10 hit Party Animal, will entertain at BRT Weekend in Greater Palm Springs next weekend.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAON MULTIMEDIA