Kingston Creative Artwalk Festival back with food and fashion

KINGSTON CREATIVE suspended its August 2025 iteration of Artwalk Festival because it was days away from the general elections. Now, it is back on Sunday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with ‘Food and Fashion’. The highlight of the day will be a performance by reggae artiste Jahmiel. The line-up also includes DJ Richie Sax and Mystic, while the host is Pepita. DJ Fenix is at the controls.

“We are excited to partner with brands like Red Stripe Flavours and the Jamaica Beauty Expo, which will be giving samples of their new products and services to the public. We have a really exciting schedule of creative activities planned, so everyone should make sure not to miss out,” Christine Solomon, Artwalk Festival manager, said.

Sharing top billing is the SAINT runway show from 2 to 3 p.m., featuring local designers including Marsha-Rae McBean, Nadine Thompson, Marcia Adams and Howard Janseen Graham. The fourth edition of SAINT International’s Downtown Kingston Model search, a partnership with Kingston Creative to expose new talent from the communities, is also on the runway, likewise the ‘Campus Catwalk’, a presentation from the fashion students at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and the costume competition with a $10,000 prize.

Starting at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour wheels on with stops at Water Lane at the Artwalk Festival, Trench Town Ceramic Centre for $500, National Gallery of Jamaica, National Library of Jamaica, the Institute of Jamaica, and Fleet Street for $1000.

The Mural Art Walking Tour is at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. at a cost of $3000 (resident), and US$35 (non-resident). The Discover Downtown Duke Street Heritage Tour starts at 10 a.m. at the Kingston Creative Information Booth at the corner of Church Street and Water Lane to stop at popular downtown landmarks. The National Gallery of Jamaica also debuts its new exhibition ‘One Nation, New Symbols’ at 1:30 p.m., while ROK Hotel hosts the poolside after-party.

PAINT AND SIP SESSIONS

People will be painting and sipping at 12:30, 2:15, and 3:30 p.m. in the Great Wall Motors (GWM) Paint & Sip sessions, and foodies can expect an array of food tasting from local chefs and vendors, including live cocktails demos by Dr Spirit and a ‘Beer Garden’ hosted by Red Stripe Flavours. Over 80 artisans offering hand-made Jamaican products are in the ‘Artwalk Village’.

“Events like the Artwalk Festival prove that the creative industries are a serious player in the business sector. With more than 108 registered artisans, 16 entrepreneurs from our incubator programme and another 30 musicians, models and poets, all collectively generating millions of dollars in a single day, the data make it clear; cultural festivals like these are engines of economic growth. For Jamaica, investing in creatives means investing in jobs, entrepreneurship, and the competitiveness of our economy,”Andrea Dempster Chung, cofounder and executive director, Kingston Creative, told The Gleaner.

“Many times, we look at the obvious tourism or entertainment aspect, but since this festival has a record showing from our entrepreneurs, I really want to hone in on the business aspect of the festival,” she also said.

The event is supported by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, the Development Bank of Jamaica, Great Wall Motors, Catherine’s Peak, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, and the Jamaica Tourist Board. Secure parking is available at Myers Fletcher Gordon and GWM/Stewarts will provide shuttle services throughout the day.

“The Kingston Creative Artwalk Festival represents a bold new chapter in Jamaica’s cultural tourism landscape. By showcasing avant-garde fashion alongside our rich artistic heritage, we’re positioning Kingston as a cutting-edge creative destination that honours tradition while embracing innovation,” Donovan White, director of tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board, said.

Kingston Creative is a non-profit organisation dedicated to using art, culture, and creativity to drive social and economic transformation in Jamaica. Through public art projects, creative entrepreneurship programs, and community development initiatives, Kingston Creative is shaping downtown Kingston into a vibrant cultural hub.

“The Kingston Creative Artwalk Festival has become a flagship event for downtown Kingston, bringing together thousands of attendees each month to experience Jamaica’s cultural and creative industries in a safe, family-friendly environment,” Kingston Creative says.