17th Annual Reggae and World Music Festival Takes Place in Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth’s Bayfront Festival Park was full of dancing, culture, and connecting on Saturday.

It was all part of the 17th Annual Reggae and World Music Festival. More than a half-dozen artists shared their music with the crowd. Food trucks were there, too, offering Jamaican dishes and other food from different cultures. For some, reggae fest is about connecting with their roots, and celebrating where they came from.

“I’m originally from Trinidad and Tobago. So, it kind of reminds me of my home and the activities like these that I would partake in,” said Natifa Benjamin, CEO and owner of Glitz Fashion Star.

For business owners it’s the perfect opportunity to share culture and show it off, too.

“As you see, my outfit- everybody when I come up is like, ‘Where did you get this?’ ‘Oh my god, that’s so cute, where did you get this from?’ So, I felt like that was a need to bring it to Duluth,” said Benjamin. “Because there’s not a lot of options for Trinidadian clothes here in Duluth.”

Some of the proceeds from Reggae Fest will go toward the Jamaica Minnesota Organization to help children in Jamaica.