BASSETERRE — Children under 18 will be welcome to attend this year’s St. Kitts Music Festival for its 28th edition, with no age restrictions in place, though organizers are urging parents to supervise minors closely due to some festival elements not suitable for young audiences.
Tivanna Wharton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, made the announcement during the festival’s opening press conference, clarifying that current policy does not prohibit attendance by minors.
“Currently, there is no policy in place that restricts persons who are under 18 from attending the music festival. So, let me be clear: there is no policy and nobody will be turned away from the music festival,” Wharton said. “However, we recognize that there are elements within the festival that are not friendly for children. We encourage parents and guardians to ensure that children are accompanied at all times for safety purposes.”
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that any future changes to the festival’s age policy would not be made hastily, noting that the tradition of families attending together has been the norm for years.
“At the Ministry of Tourism and the St. Kitts Music Festival, we recognize that there is possibly an appetite for this event to be an adult-only event. If any changes are to be made, this will be done through consultation,” Wharton said. “We are not going to make the announcement the day before the festival because we recognize that this has been the norm over the years for children to come with their parents. We’re happy to have the conversation in the future possibly for future festivals, but for today and for this year’s 28th edition, there is no policy restricting or prohibiting persons under 18 to attend.”
The announcement comes as organizers prepare for the upcoming festival, striking a balance between maintaining accessibility and acknowledging the adult-oriented nature of some entertainment offerings.