The Great Escape, dubbed Negril's official Easter party weekend, was launched on Saturday, February 9 at the Boardwalk Village in Negril.

"It's 2013 and we are ready to take the Great Escape Easter Party weekend to the next level." This is the message coming from an upbeat Mastermind Group, a coalition of prominent local Negril promoters who have come together to create the highly anticipated party weekend which made its debut last year.

According to Howard Wisdom, who is a member of the Mastermind Entertainment group, patrons can expect an even better Great Escape this year.

"We are pulling out all stops, the Great Escape is being advertised in several overseas markets, including the US, and Canada, and so far the response has been phenomenal," said Wisdom.

From all indications, the Great Escape organisers plan to emulate the successes of the popular Dream and ATI weekend parties that are held in Negril each year during the summer.

"We are doing everything to make this into a calendar event that will attract party fans worldwide," said another Mastermind team member, Sean Greenfield.

This year the event will be backed by Charley's JB Rum as title sponsor, and Breezes Grand, which is the official resort for the festival.

Great Escape 2013 will kick off on Good Friday, March 29, with the Beach Bacchanal at the Jungle Nightclub. This event will be headlined by Oscar B from Trinidad.

On Saturday, March 30, patrons can prepare to get dirty at Escape Jouvert at Jamaica Tamboo Hotel. Then later on the action moves over to Bourbon Beach where Escapers will be invited to turn out wearing red, yellow or green, according to their status for Stoplight Affair.

On Sunday, March 30, it's back to Jamaica Tamboo with the entire family for Escape Family Fun Day, which will feature attractions like bounceabout, water slides and live performances from Chuck Fenda, Mixing Lab and many others.

Later on that same evening the fun continues with the staging of the popular Soakin Wett - Soca Water Beach Party at Chances Beach.

Come Monday, April 1, Escapers are

invited to chill out and relax at Chill Spot, the Italian Café, home of Negril's best pizza and the finest house music.

By nightfall it will be time to bring the curtain down with Negril's favourite all-white beach party, Wet Dreams-Bikini Isles, at Sunset On the Beach.