The Revelry Cannabis Extravaganza held at Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan on October 4th and 5th brought a true Spannabis vibe to New York City. Much like Barcelona’s renowned cannabis festival, which has been drawing global crowds for over 20 years, Revelry offers a dynamic mix of industry professionals and consumers.
The event combined a traditional trade show—where buyers and brands networked and did business—with the lively atmosphere of an outdoor music festival, where attendees could meet brands, purchase products, and freely consume cannabis while enjoying the party.
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Revelry’s “meet-the-brand music festival” is the first large-scale public event of its kind in NYC. Visitors eagerly explored rows of booths from top cannabis companies inside the 70,000-square-foot sports and entertainment venue, which offered stunning views of Brooklyn across the East River. It was a prime opportunity for brands to engage directly with consumers and for cannabis enthusiasts to connect with the growers and extractors behind their favorite products.
Rachel Hurvitz, Marketing Director for Final Bell’s vape house brand, Animal, manned their booth and noted, “As an eight-year veteran from the West Coast, I was thrilled to experience the fresh market energy, camaraderie, and excitement brewing in New York.”
The NY market is growing up
In new cannabis markets, distillate-infused products are often the first to hit shelves, as they’re the easiest and most cost-effective to produce and test. But at Revelry, it was clear the New York cannabis market was evolving.
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Many brands showcased live resin and rosin products—extraction methods that preserve the plant’s full spectrum of terpenes and cannabinoids, unlike distillate, which isolates pure THC. Oregon-based Happy Cabbage Farms promoted their award-winning premium hash rosin dabs with several trophies to back their claims. Brands like Kiva and MFNY highlighted strain-specific gummies on their packaging, such as live resin Cherry Lime x Super Runtz, catering to discerning consumers who value quality and complexity in their cannabis.
As consumers become more educated about how genetics, cultivation methods, and extraction processes impact the quality and effects of cannabis, brands are finding it crucial to adapt and meet their evolving preferences to remain competitive.
Shiny happy farmers
What a difference a year makes. Just last year, a farmer stood up at a New York Cannabis Control Board meeting and admitted to contemplating suicide, devastated by the loss of his life savings due to the state’s flawed cannabis rollout. Dubbed a “disaster” by Governor Hochul, it’s no secret that the launch of New York’s cannabis industry has been grueling, especially for farmers who endured a long wait for dispensaries to be licensed and operational. But with over 200 dispensaries now open, a sense of relief and optimism was evident on the faces of farmers exhibiting at Revelry.
Natalia Kaminskya, co-founder of the MFNY brand, has been working tirelessly since the 2018 Farm Bill passed, and she expressed gratitude and relief that “we’re still standing.” According to Headset data, MFNY leads in concentrate sales.
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Ashley Mayne of Alchemy Pure, a craft farm in Millerton, NY, led by renowned Hudson Valley gourmet lettuce farmer Chris Regan, reflected on the event: “We were lifted by the atmosphere of mutual support and honored to meet so many amazing people. We learn and make new friends at every Revelry, which is what it’s all about.”
Rodney Carter, owner of Trends Dispensary, shared in a podcast interview that Alchemy Pure is their top-selling flower brand, and their Brr Berry strain flies off the shelves.
Highlighting NY culture
Famed NYC graffiti artist Gazoo used Revelry to launch his new flower, preroll, and vape brand, fittingly named after his iconic tagline, “Up To The Moon,” which is scrawled across sidewalks, doors, and surfaces throughout the city.
Known not only for his street art but also for his installations, set designs, commissioned murals, and collaboration with Beyoncé on her visual album Black Is King, Gazoo brought his signature blend of art and culture to the cannabis scene. At Revelry, he promoted his new cannabis lifestyle brand by personally screen-printing t-shirts with his “Up To The Moon” logo and handing them out to attendees who eagerly lined up for the exclusive gift.
Education is key
What began as a Brooklyn block party to educate the public about the medicinal side of cannabis and normalize it has since evolved into a full-scale festival. Revelry now features food trucks, live music, educational panels, and onsite cannabis consumption. Staying true to its original mission of public education, this year’s event included several panel discussions aimed at informing attendees about the health benefits of cannabis and offering insights into the industry.
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A number of professional athletes took the stage to share their personal stories and discuss their cannabis brand partnerships. NFL players Jamie Collins and Stevan Ridley, along with former WNBA player Kalana Greene, spoke about how cannabis has impacted their lives. Basketball star Carmelo Anthony made a surprise appearance, promoting his Oregon-based brand, STAYME7O. He also shared valuable tips for entering the cannabis industry, emphasizing his commitment to helping others succeed as the market grows.
Revelry: a global event in the making
Revelry wrapped up its two-day extravaganza with a vibrant music festival featuring headliner Joey Bada$$ and DJ Odalys. The event marked a significant leap toward mainstream acceptance of the cannabis industry. If Revelry continues on its current trajectory, much like Spannabis, it’s poised to become the next global cannabis community hub—this time on this side of the Atlantic. After all, New York City is already the world’s greatest melting pot of innovators, entrepreneurs, creators, and cultures, making it the perfect backdrop for such a movement.
*This article was submitted by a guest contributor. The author is solely responsible for the contents.