Growing up, entertainer Laa Lee didn’t get the chance to experience the fun and excitement at the family event Funfest. So, when he got the call to perform at the most recent staging on Easter Monday, held at Hope Gardens, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“I was happy when they contacted me to perform, because I wanted to come as a kid, but mummy never carried me. Now I am here as an adult, but I can’t really do the stuff that kids do, but I am here to make sure that the kids enjoy themselves,” Laa Lee shared in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

The entertainer had the crowd rocking to his songs, among them the ultra-popular Dirt Bounce, Bird, Whatz On Sale and Bong Bing. Both young and old responded with excitement.

“A dem mek Laa Lee who he is right now. So, mi haffi mek sure I do the songs that they like, the songs that will keep them entertained,” he said.

A father of a one-year-old son, Laa Lee (real name Romario Ricketts) says fatherhood hasn’t changed him.

“Being a father, me realise how much trouble I used to give mummy, so I fully understand the role of being a parent,” said Laa Lee.

Prior to Laa Lee’s performance, gospel artiste John Mark Wiggan brought some reverence to the day’s proceedings. Armed with songs such as his original Never Leave, a cover of Sherwin Gardner’s On the Road and He Lives, he shared that gospel has its place at events such as Funfest.

“This is my first time performing at this event and the reception was really good. I am quite surprised at how the patrons responded. To have this opportunity of performing here in front of hundreds of people, I have to give God the glory. We try to win souls at all times with the message and, in these times, the message gets lost sometimes with the amount of distractions. An event like this, where we have the family out enjoying themselves, we try to make people understand that the music is quality in gospel,” said Wiggan.

“I think that Funfest is a very good space to perform and to entertain the people because God gave me the grace to do it, and the people were surprisingly very receptive,” he shared.

Jamaica’s “Michael Jackson” and his backup dancers delivered a rousing set which excited patrons.

Outside of the performances, patrons enjoyed on stage activities from sponsors, including spelling and dancing competitions.

Parents enjoyed a bingo game under shelter from the sun’s piercing rays, while youngsters participated in rides, games, and other fun activities.

Marie, from Trench Town, took her three children to enjoy the event.

“It’s really the children why I’m here. They always wanted to come and this time I decided to bring them. And so far it has been a good experience. It’s a holiday so why not bring them out,” she said.

Donovan from Portmore was seen with his girlfriend and toddler.

“This is a family event… It’s my third time here and its been really good. The sun is hot but it didn’t damper the vibes,” he said.