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Downtown Kingston came alive with music, movement, visual art, and community pride on Sunday as the ArtWalk Festival transformed the city into an open-air celebration of Jamaica’s cultural heritage. Hosted by arts non-governmental organisation Kingston Creative, the festival brought together over 2,000 guests, with 100 artists, performers, vendors, cultural institutions, and residents for a full day of immersive experiences on Church Street and Water Lane in the downtown Kingston Art District.
The festival opened with a moment of silence for the artist Mazola, from Treasure Beach, and was followed by a walk-through of artisan and food vendor booths, inviting patrons to meet creators, learn about their work, and support local enterprises. Throughout the day, free mural and augmented reality art tours departed from the tours desk, guiding participants through downtown Kingston’s evolving public art landscape, including stops at the Institute of Jamaica and National Gallery.
A dynamic procession by the Southern Strikers Marching Band from Rae Town set the tone early, drawing crowds into the heart of the festival and showcasing the power of community-based performances. Cultural performances continued with a dance presentation by the Tivoli Dance Troupe, bringing movement and storytelling from neighbouring Tivoli Gardens to the main stage. This was followed by a special spotlight on Kingston’s skate culture, featuring the Jamaica Skate Culture Foundation and a live skateboarding demonstration with a mobile skate park, sponsored by the French and German embassies.
A key highlight of the day was a donor plaque unveiling ceremony, where Kingston Creative formally recognised partners contributing to the development of the downtown Kingston Art District. Nicole Burgher from PAC Kingston Airport Limited; Anuoke Matthews of Great Wall Motors (Stewart’s Automotive Group); and Michael Maxwell from Digital Video Concepts were acknowledged for their support. Executive Director Andrea Dempster Chung outlined Kingston Creative’s vision for the district, and reflected on the powerful contribution of the first 100 members to a transformed downtown.
One of the most anticipated moments was the appearance of the Jonkunnu band, Jamaica’s iconic Christmas tradition. Through performance and dialogue with the band leader, audiences were taken on a journey through the history, symbolism, African roots, and regional variations of Jonkunnu, emphasising the importance of intergenerational cultural transmission.
As the afternoon unfolded, live music sets by Karbon, Bjorn, and Snagga Puss energised the stage, while continued vendor spotlights encouraged patrons to support artisans, including creators from Treasure Beach and Westmoreland. The return of Jonkunnu later in the day reinforced the festival’s rhythmic flow between heritage and contemporary expression.
The festival culminated in a powerful headline performance by Grammy–nominated artiste Mortimer, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd, who sang along word for word. His soulful reggae set closed the day on a high note.
The ArtWalk Festival is in its eighth year.
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