The strange thing about Reggae Rise Up Florida is that even when the wheels wobble a little, weather delays, technical hiccups, the occasional Florida thunderstorm threatening to swallow the stage whole; the vibe inside the gates never cracks.
If anything, it gets stronger. 
The atmosphere is electric. Communal in the purest sense.
Strangers snap photos for each other in front of colorful art installations. Hammocks stretch impossibly high between palm trees. Boats, kayaks, and paddleboards drift just offshore; their passengers catching an earful of the music floating across Tampa Bay.
The weekend pulsated between the two main stages, the Rise Up stage and the Vibe stage each feeding off the energy from the other. Every step across the grounds offered a new thrill, a fresh beat to chase. And smack in the middle of that musical ping-pong was the Sugar Shack pop-up stage, explosive and expertly produced. Every Sugar Shack set added another heartbeat to the festival, brief, intimate, and unforgettable, each one drawing fans in and keeping the energy flowing. Just a few highlights included Iration, Jarv, Roots of Creation, Passafire, and G-Love and Special Sauce
That same communal energy spilled onto the main stages. Guests seemed to materialize out of thin air all weekend. Roots of Creation pulled out Passafire’s Ted Bowne along with Adoo of Space Kamp and Kevin Ries of The Ries Brothers. Slightly Stoopid summoned Cypress Hill’s B-Real and Charlie 2na. Shwayze welcomed Eli-Mac. Little Stranger brought out Jarv and Damn Skippy. De La Soul called up the legendary Talib Kweli, while Sublime stacked the stage with friends, Common Kings’
Jr King, G Love, and Makua Rothman. This is only a fraction of the collaborations erupting across the weekend.
Highlight moments came fast and heavy. A rainbow burst across the sky just as Skip Marley sang “One Love.” For a moment the entire crowd seemed to notice at once, heads tilting upward toward the same patch of sky. It felt almost cosmic. Like a quiet blessing from his grandfather Bob Marley and his late brother Jo Mersa Marley.
Protoje teased new material from his upcoming album. De La Soul commanded the crowd like hip-hop royalty. Steel Pulse stormed the stage with thunderous energy after a weather delay.
Another standout this year was both legendary and up & coming hip-hop acts bringing another layer of ener gy to the festival’s atmosphere.
Cypress Hill showed why they’ve long been considered one of the greatest live acts in history.De La Soul proved once again why they remain icons with an infectious stage presence. Yelawolf’s connection with the crowd was undeniable, while Shwayze delivered a whole vibe that had the audience locked in. Little Stranger was without a doubt one of the biggest draws of the weekend, and Jarv put on a lyrical clinic.
But perhaps the most powerful moment came from Jakob Nowell leading Sublime. Not just holding the role but owning it. His gratitude was real, thanking Florida repeatedly for the love. It felt like watching legacy and future collide in real time. 
Another unforgettable weekend in St. Petersburg, a city quickly becoming a true hub for reggae in America. A place that feels increasingly like home for the scene.
St. Pete clearly Loves Reggae.
And judging by this weekend, Reggae Loves St. Pete right back.
Review and Photos by Adam Viola.
