ReggaeXclusive Summer 2018 | Page 6

REGGAEXCLUSIVE NEWS tion, physical as well as mental health and wellness. Throughout this section there will be an open mic for artists interested in show- casing their talent. Music will be by DJ Boxer Joe and Special Mix. Registration is mandatory. RASTAFEST REG- GAE FESTIVAL - AUGUST 18TH, 2018 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of Rastafest Reggae Festival in Toronto, an annual festival cele- brating the national and interna- tional initiatives of the Rastafarian movement in Canada and Jamaica! This year’s festival takes place at the parking lot of the Toronto Plaza Hotel, 1677 Wilson Avenue on Saturday, August 18th, 2018 and will feature the First Annual Empress Walk & Health and Wellness Community Fair. Our festival is unique in that it promotes healthy living while encouraging a positive, family-friendly environ- ment. We have grown steadily from our humble beginnings at 500 patrons to over 7,000 in 2017. In keeping with our goal to raise awareness about healthy living, the festival kicks with The Empress Walk. The Empress Walk is a 3.3km walk from the intersection of Jane Street & Sheppard Avenue West (at 12 noon) to the festival site to promote and educate peo- ple about health and wellness for culturally diverse women and their communities. The Health and Wellness Community Fair from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm is a new pavil- ion at Rastafest Reggae Festival with a variety of vendors and com- munity agencies providing goods, services, and information on nutri- The entertainment continues from 5:00 pm and ends at 10:00 pm. The concert will feature Vernon Buckley from the legendary group, The Maytones, Mikey Melody, Horace Martin, Iley Dread, Orthodox Issachar, Jade Faith, and Dahlia Anderson. Also, on the con- cert are the winners from the Rastafest competition: Empress Divine, Jade Siress, Joyce N’sana, Tony Propfit, Planky and Dan Fiyah Beats. The band competition win- ners are: Richie Flo, Freedubstar and BTH. This year will be the last time the festival will be staged as an out- door summer festival thus to show our appreciation to the community for its ongoing support throughout the years there won’t be any admission to the event. Next year Rastafest Reggae Festival returns as an indoor event from November 1st, 2019 to November 3rd, 2019. Rastafest is organized by Masani Productions and sponsored by Rastafest Inc. For more details please log on to rastafest.com or email [email protected]. Media Contact: 416-638-4235. MONTREAL REGGAE FEST TAKES A HIA- TUS FOR 2018 Courtesy of Natasha Von Castle/L3 Magazine M ontreal, QC (Canada) - Montreal Inte