April 20, or 4/20, fell on a Friday this year, and stoners and marijuana advocates rejoiced in celebration of a free schedule for a holiday that requires copious amounts of lounging. However, everyone celebrates the holiday differently. Some people prefer Netflix, snacks and bong rips while others like an active night in the company of friends.

Enter the second Annual Reggae Night Out. Last Friday, a celebration of Jamaican culture took place at Pounders. Folks from all walks of life gathered to party in a “family” type of environment.

Pounders is a bar most Ellensburg night-lifers haven’t heard of, and for good reason; the bar is at the top of a stairway in an alleyway. Located above The Palace, Pounders is a one-hundred-person capacity bar with several places to hang out and either chill or dance depending on the type of event that is going on.

The 4/20 event last Friday was decorated with Rasta colors and flags from wall to wall and a sizable DJ stand which included expensive speakers and a reggae DJ. Taking place on April 20, one would think the place would have a smorgasbord of edibles and weed paraphernalia, but alas, alcohol and marijuana cannot be legally sold under the same roof, so most attendees found a loophole by showing up stoned.

The group that put on the event, Black Grenade Entertainment (BGE), semi-frequently puts on shows at Pounders and around Ellensburg. BGE is a music group that specializes in hip-hop and reggae music, and boasts fun shows with a happy-vibes demeanor.

During the event, BGE often took the microphone and reminded the audience of the family and connection theme, which was the focus of the event. The event was said to be a celebration of Jamaican culture and, according to everyone in attendance, family and love are at the center of all things Jamaican. Due to the “one love” idea, attendees were friendly and talkative. The community, which was present, created a lax environment full of smiling faces and plastic green 4/20 necklaces.  

“We are really based off of (Jamaican) family and culture,” BGE media coordinator Sarah Rogers, 24,, said. “That’s every event, that’s what we’re trying to do is just make our family bigger.” Rogers was the door lady for the event and said there was no conflict with any of the roughly 50 people who attended.

A happy and close-knit community is what BGE aims to achieve, and they did so with large speakers and music that was audible from a block away. The reggae set opened with rapper Tim Phelan and closed with DJ Rude, who played reggae beats with a heavy bass.

Phelan has been rapping for eight years and believes BGE and their events are one of a kind. Phelan has become accustomed to events such as the 4/20 reggae night.

“I believe this is the tenth time I’ve performed at this venue,” Phelan said. “I do love Pounders hall and Black Grenade Entertainment. They bring in flowers, and everything is love here. It’s a family affair even if you’re not family.”

Not everyone in the venue was decked out in Rasta, however. Nikki Taylor, 21, came because of her friends performing and stayed because of the welcoming atmosphere. “They throw events like this all the time and they’re all lots of fun,” Taylor said.

4/20 is a holiday for all beliefs, cultures and denominations. Reggae night and Jamaican culture proved to be complementary to the holiday spirit last Friday at Pounders.