Playing hookie for Hookie Weekend!

Hookie Weekend is exactly what it sounds like. People from all over the country come together for the 4-day long celebration of Caribbean turn up which includes a jouvert, pool party, and road march. What makes Hookie Weekend worthwhile? For starters, they’ve been “saving people from work since 2010.” They bring the best Caribbean vibes to the DMV. This makes it an easy location to get to if you’re in the tri-state area or east coast. Another great aspect is it is inexpensive. Who doesn’t like to save money while having a good time? Lastly, if you are looking to get your feet wet with the Caribbean culture, it is a great entry point for all the above reasons. Hookie Weekend is one for the books! Below are the events you can expect to attend. There are packages that include hotel and event tickets, a package for tickets for the weekend, and individual ticket sales for each event.

Day 1

Release Therapy

Release Therapy is a free party that jump starts the festivities. This year it was held at Karma Night Club. There were a variety of DJs keeping the crowd going with the added touch of live drummers. Something about a live band always turns thing up a notch! After the festivities, you can grab food outside of the club before heading home or to your next stop.

Day 2

Hookie X

This is the notable pool party that is a staple of Hookie Weekend. There is a pool accessible to party goers, food trucks, bars, games, and much more. This year they had special performances by Nailah Blackman and the one and only Kes The Band!

Day 3

Lion’s Pride Jouvert

Everyone participating in jouvert must pick up a bag that includes a t-shirt, towel, cup, and whistle the day prior. The day of, feterans (party goers) come wearing their jouvert t-shirt and whatever other gear they want to commence jouvert. My recommendation is that this includes shoes you don’t care about, a scarf/ bandana for your hair, and a bandana or something to cover your nose and mouth. Party goers collect paint on site. Reminder that jouvert gets very messy. Paint and powder are flying everywhere. The paint stains so make sure you don’t wear anything you would be upset about ruining. What is the best part about jouvert? Open bar on the road!

I have to say this was my absolute favorite part of Hookie Weekend. It was the vibiest! Everyone was dancing and fully enjoying themselves.

Shine

Shine is the party you attend after cleaning off and resting up from Lion’s Pride jouvert. It’s similar to Release Therapy but better. I think jouvert had everyone’s blood flowing and in the mood to continue feteing. Shine was also held at Karma lounge this year and the food option still stands.

Day 4

Riddim & Road

This is the day that many wait for. “We ready fi di roadddddddd!” Riddim and Road is the road march in Washington DC. The best part about this road march is that you don’t have to purchase a costume! You simply wear one that you have already from a previous carnival or make one. How cool is that?

Hopefully this post was incentive enough to add Hookie Weekend to your Summer 2020 Bucketlist.