Events
Soul Beach Music Festival came to St. Maarten for Memorial Day weekend 2025
The Soul Beach Music Festival was held in St. Maarten from 21 to 26 May 2025, with Charlie Wilson, Muni Long and Cedric the Entertainer on the bill and main concerts at the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village.
By SXM Daily ·
Reported 20 May 2025.
The Soul Beach Music Festival was hosted by St. Maarten from 21 to 26 May 2025, over the US Memorial Day weekend. A government release announced the line-up: R&B singer Charlie Wilson, singer Muni Long, and comedian Cedric the Entertainer, who headlined a comedy night.
According to the release, the main stage for the concerts was the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village. The Daily Herald's festival supplement also placed the main concert there, and Faxinfo reported the festival's dates and line-up for French-side readers.
How it went
ABC11, a US broadcaster that covered the festival, reported that attendance was lower than in past years and that some guests found it hard to get around, with venues spread across the island.
The minister's estimate
On 4 June 2025, Tourism Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten told the Council of Ministers press briefing that the festival had drawn about 2,500 visitors and generated at least US$3 million in local economic activity, The Daily Herald reported. Both figures were the minister's own estimates. She said the government had invested US$500,000 in the event, and that hotels her cabinet consulted reported occupancy of 85% to 95% during the festival, against 60% to 70% on the same weekend in 2024.
Sources
- Government of Sint Maarten: Soul Beach Music Festival hosted by St. Maarten unveils line-up
- Faxinfo: Soul Beach Music Festival is back in St. Maarten, May 21–26
- The Daily Herald: The Soul Beach Music Festival 2025
- The Daily Herald: Grisha: Soul Beach draws 2,500 visitors, generates $3 million in economic activity
- ABC11: Soul Beach Music Festival 2025, new island, same vibes