The Red Stripe Bold Escape Weekend, a series of five diverse parties, will be staged across three venues in and around Ocho Rios during the weekend of October 16-18.

"We wanted to introduce the bold experience to Ocho Rios in an exciting way," said Safia Cooper, Red Stripe brand manager.

Smirnoff, another Diageo brand, will be an associate sponsor of the weekend and lead sponsor on one of the parties.

Cooper explained that the parties were regulars on the entertainment landscape but Red Stripe decided to come on board as sponsor for the weekend "to ensure that we create several individual touch points and celebrate with Ocho Rios and surrounding communities".

Season armbands cost $7,000 and will grant holders access to all five parties. "They came together under one armband to offer consumers a better price," Cooper noted.

The event starts on Friday, October 16, with Impy Skimpy South Beach at Richmond Estate in Priory, St Ann. The action will feature Illusion, Renaissance, DJ Timeless and ZJ Chromatic. Two events follow on Saturday, October 17 - Smirnoff Escape at the Old Fort Bay Beach beside Laughing Waters and Tantrum at the Ocho Rios Pier. Delano, Jazzy, DJ Timeless, Kurt Riley, Xclamation and Illusion will set the pace at Smirnoff Escape, while at Tantrum, Coppershot will hold sway along with Timeless, Richie Ross and ZJ Liquid.

Cooper

The party weekend ends on Sunday, October 18, with Hallucinate: Mardi Gras Edition at Richmond Estate and Beer Fest: The Ultimate Wet Party at the Old Fort Bay Beach in Ocho Rios. Smirnoff Escape and Beer Fest will run from 2-10 p.m. while all the others start at 10 p.m.

Cooper said a season-band redemption centre will be located at 8 Main Street in Ocho Rios, beside John Crow's Tavern. Season band tickets must be redeemed at the redemption centre and not at the gates to the events, she said.