Sister Nancy, Minister Marion Hall to headline New Jersey Jamaica Day festival

Matthew McKoy, producer of the New Jersey Jamaica Day festival, said on Tuesday, July 7, that Dancehall DJ Sister Nancy and Minister Marion Hall will headline this year’s popular event.

McKoy told Caribbean Life that Grammy-nominated reggae artist Lila Iké, DJ Lady G, and gospel artists Rhoda Isabella and Golda McFarlane will also feature during the 10th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, Aug. 1, and Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, at Eastside Park in Paterson. 

“As we celebrate this milestone alongside Jamaica’s 64th year of Independence, we are proud to continue creating a space where families, artists, businesses, and community leaders come together to honor our heritage while inspiring future generations,” McKoy said. 

“Ten years ago, this festival started as a way to give our community a place to come together and celebrate who we are,” he added. 

McKoy’s dad, Bill McKoy, founder of the Bill McKoy Foundation, said that this year’s Jamaica Day is “more than a festival — it’s a celebration of 10 years of community, culture and connection.”

WB Radio Executive David “Fat Forward” Warren lauded the lineup, stating that it represents “the best of reggae, dancehall and gospel music. 

“Sister Nancy is [an] icon in dancehall circles,” he said. “Her hit song ‘Bam Bam’ is the most sampled reggae/dancehall song of all time.

“Her journey speaks to so many people, while Lila Iké is building a solid catalogue of songs and represents where our music is headed next,” Warren added. “When you add Lady G, Rhoda Isabella, and Golda McFarlane, you have every generation and every part of our culture represented on one stage.” 

McKoy described the weekend festival as “a celebration of the richness, influence, and evolution of Jamaican music and culture.”

Jamaica Day is presented by the Bill McKoy Foundation. 

The free, family-friendly event features live entertainment, authentic Jamaican food, arts and faith programming, local vendors, youth activities, carnival rides, and community engagement. 

“We’ve kept this festival free and family-friendly for 10 years because that was always the point — nobody should be priced out of celebrating their own culture,” McKoy said. 

“My father built this out of love for our people and our home,” he added. “Every year we do this, we’re carrying that vision forward. And this 10th anniversary is our biggest step yet.”