Cayman Islands Festivals

As festive as the Cayman Islands are all year round, there are lots of events and activities that bring people together to celebrate for extra special occasions.

Cayman Festival of the Arts:

With diverse activities celebrating and showcasing the arts and culture of the Cayman Islands, Cayfest has something to appeal to everyone in the family. Beginning with a traditional boat launch at the "Seaside" extravaganza, the festival offers open-air and indoor events on both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, featuring local bands, drama and dance productions, arts and craft, native dishes, and other demonstrations of local talent, such as photo, culinary and song competitions and an art exhibition.

Pirates Week:

The Annual Pirates Week Festival was designed to share part of the Cayman history with both visitors and locals. Features include music, street dances, costumes, games, food and drink, a "pirate invasion", Kids Day, glittering parade, sports events, Heritage Days and fireworks! It's 10 fun-filled, festive days in the sun with something for everyone, and a lot of it is free! First it's fireworks, followed by a local song contest and then, almost every day for 10 days, Caribbean rhythms pulsate in open-air street dances until the wee hours of the morning. A mock "pirate invasion" from the sea - two old-time sailing vessels, loaded with "pirates" make a Saturday surprise landing at the bowl-shaped George Town harbour, as thousands line the streets to take part in the spectacle or to just onlook. With a new twist every year, it's the only event of its kind in the Caribbean region.

Cayman Carnival - Batabano:

Since its humble beginnings in 1984 as a community event which closed the tourism season, Rotary's Batabano Carnival has grown to become one of the Cayman Islands' most popular National Tourism Attractions. The event is an annual affair and is usually held after Ash Wednesday. The heart and soul of Batabano is the Mas' (Masquerade) Bands who get the opportunity to express creativity, imagination and talent, often through the interpretation of a social issue. While many of the costumes have been traditionally inspired by the Cayman's magnificent marine environment with interpretations ranging from the regal mantra rays to the anemones, designers have begun to utilize their costumes to comment on social issues both locally and worldwide. Thousands of locals and visitors flock into the streets every year to celebrate Batabano. Steel pans provide the rhythms, and costumes created from a plethora of textures and colors fill the streets. Communities and districts join together to create the floats and Mas' bands to compete for prizes, with design and choreography become more elaborate each year. With over 500 costumed participants in the Mas' , Batabano's Street Parade is a wonderfully colourful spectacle enjoyed by adults and children of all ages.

Cayman Jazz Fest:

Bebe Winans, Eddie Levert, Charanga Habanera, Freddie Jackson, Roberta Flack, David Sanborn, Robert James...these are a few of the stars featured for this spectacular summer event as well as local bands Intransit and Notch & Club Dread Int.!