Thousands gathered at Delaware Park Casino on June 22 for the third annual Reggae in the Park, a vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, food, and culture that has become one of the state’s largest cultural events.

Despite occasional raindrops, the energy at Delaware’s largest Caribbean music festival never broke stride, with attendees dancing, laughing and celebrating the diversity that defines Caribbean Heritage Month.

With Delaware home to nearly 6,000 Jamaicans and more than 13,000 other West Indians, the festival is an annual highlight in the state’s Caribbean community. Flags from Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were carried with pride as festivalgoers celebrated their shared and unique backgrounds.

“It feels good. I usually don’t see this that often,” said Algama Mutausami, a Delaware resident originally from Guyana. “Being out here with people of different Caribbean heritage is wonderful. You get to see all the different cultures.”

This year, the festival moved from Glasgow Park in Newark to Delaware Park Casino, a shift organizers said was necessary after last year’s crowd of 20,000 stretched the Glasgow Park to its limit. Now, with 300 acres to work with, Delaware Park Casino provides ample space for more than 200 vendors selling Caribbean cuisine, drinks, accessories, and apparel. The expanded grounds also made room for a lively kid zone filled with bounce houses and games, highlighting the festival’s broad, multigenerational appeal.

Reggae in the Park attendees reflect on heritage, identity and cultural

For many attendees, Reggae in the Park was a chance to connect with their heritage — and to share those traditions with friends. Eighteen-year-old Siani Amedee, who held a St. Lucian flag in honor of her father’s heritage, attended with friends fresh off their high school graduation.

“My dad grew up there and my mom is from Trinidad and Tobago. But I just represent the Saint Lucia side,” Amedee said, smiling.

For her friend Jonathan Cerezo, who has no Caribbean roots, the festival was a powerful introduction to the culture. He was drawn in by the festival’s infectious spirit.

“It’s my very first time here,” Cerezo said. “I like how it brings everybody together. It feels very united. I’m really happy to be here.”

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Jeff Edmond, whose parents immigrated from Haiti, found the festival to be an eye-opener. He hadn’t experienced events like this growing up in Delaware.

“You get to see your heritage, try different foods, see different things people do, listen to different music,” he said.

That vibe was driven by high-energy performances from local and regional artists, with DJ sets spinning reggae, R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, soca and Afrobeats throughout the day. The excitement peaked with a headlining performance by Grammy-nominated Jamaican artist Mr. Vegas, best known for his 1998 dancehall anthem “Heads High.”

Reggae in the Park aims to make Delaware Park Casino permanent home

Although it is a celebration, Reggae in the Park is meant to be more than just a day of music and food. It’s an opportunity for immigrants and their descendants to build a community in their adopted home. Suyen Estelow, cofounder of Reggae in the Park, explained that, as a nonprofit, the event exists to support the community and local vendors and to bring people together.

“We’re grateful for the community and the support,” Estelow said, noting that the event’s rapid growth is proof of how deeply that connection is desired in Delaware. “We hope to get more sponsors behind it so it can keep growing,” she added.

Looking ahead, Estelow said organizers are hopeful that Delaware Park Casino can become the festival’s permanent home where its spirit and impact can continue to expand.

And if Sunday’s turnout and energy were any indication, Reggae in the Park has found both the space and the momentum to keep growing.

You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.