by Shawn Nowlin
While warm temperatures may soon be coming to an end for a while, fun outdoor activities throughout Roanoke City continue. Last weekend, the fourth annual Roots & Reggae Fest happened Saturday, Sept. 24 at Wasena Park.
Those who purchased a VIP ticket received a complimentary glass of wine, an aesthetically pleasing tented environment, specialty gift bags, access to private restaurants, a plethora of hors d’oeuvres, and more.
The yearly festival, put on by the Humble Hustle Company, embraces cultural diversity by uniting communities through love, humility, food, music, and fun. In addition to live music, explained Humble Hustle CEO and founder Xavier Duckett, the family-friendly event also had vendors, face painting, and food trucks.
”Every community in and around Roanoke was encouraged to attend,” Duckett said. “We are a non-profit organization dedicated to giving back to the community. Humble Hustle is more than just two words. It is a lifestyle. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes work required to make the event possible, but when it was all said and done, all involved were pleased with the outcome.”Layla Briscoe can relate to that sentiment, explaining, “To give my children a better understanding of their roots and reggae music, we do a history deep dive every weekend. To keep it fun, I intentionally try different tactics.”
Supported in part by contributions from local businesses, this year’s Roots & Reggae Fest sponsors were Carilion Clinic, United Way of the Roanoke Valley, and Motivate The Game. Proceeds directly support the Humble Hustle Company.
Trinika Williams takes tremendous pride in her Jamaican heritage. Explaining why last weekend’s festival was so much fun, she said, “Looking around the park and seeing different ethnicities was an awesome feeling. I share the belief that anyone can learn new information if they are willing to be open-minded. There’s so much more to the origins of reggae music than what people are often told.”
For additional information about upcoming events and more, visit www.thehumblehustle.org.
