In summer it sometimes seems that The Cube at Old Market Square has something every weekend. And indeed Jazz Fest and Fringe Festival occupy the area for weeks between the both of them. There is one other festival though that has consistently used Winnipeg’s downtown site and that is Soca Reggae Festival.
For the last 12 years, Soca Reggae Festival has brought the sounds of calypso, reggae and Trinidad and Tobago’s soca music to Winnipeg. This year’s featured guest are Everton and Isha Blender in their first appearance in the city. The shows begin on July 14 at noon and run to Sunday at 10 PM. Food trucks line the street leading into festival grounds and the price range up to $10 in evening. Caribbean vendors are also present.
There is a beverage center to enjoy alcohol but Soca tends to attract a lot of families during its run. In the evenings though, the shows are high energy. Guests are told to bring lawn chairs.
Soca Reggae Festival is another reason to get out and enjoy live music in Winnipeg.
This has been a editorial by John Dobbin.
To read more from John, visit his blog Observations, Reservations, Conversations
