From soursop, piña colada and sorrel rum cakes to wine-soaked black cake, South Florida’s indoor holiday celebration offers a delicious tour of the Caribbean
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — How many ways can the Caribbean make a holiday cake? At this year’s Rum Cake & Caribbean Black Cake Festival, guests will have dozens of delicious ways to find out.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary on Sunday, November 15, from 2–6 p.m., the festival brings together 23 bakers, each representing a different Caribbean country or territory, at The Venue Fort Lauderdale in Wilton Manors. Guests can sample even more cake varieties than countries represented, alongside specialty Caribbean spirits, regional cuisine, holiday performances and shopping.
Presented by Island SPACE Caribbean Museum and Caribbean Professionals Network, sponsored by the Broward County Cultural Division, supported by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and The Venue Fort Lauderdale, the entirely indoor celebration is preparing to welcome more than 1,000 guests.
Family Recipes Meet Inventive New Flavors
The festival’s signature Hall of Bakers presented by Barbados features participants representing the French-, Dutch-, Spanish- and English-speaking Caribbean traditions including Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Guests can compare golden butter rum cakes featuring inventive flavors such as coconut, pumpkin spice and bourbon with traditional dark, fruit-rich black cakes whose family recipes reflect generations of Caribbean culinary ingenuity.
Even among black cakes, the differences are fascinating. Guyanese recipes may incorporate preserved star fruit, while other Caribbean traditions feature cherry brandy, stout or distinctive combinations of rum, wine and spices.
“With bakers curated by our production partner Caribbean Professionals Network, we’ve made a deliberate effort to make this the broadest Caribbean representation in the festival’s history,” said Calibe Thompson, executive director of Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. “Whether you grew up with these traditions or are discovering them for the first time, we want you to learn, explore, indulge and enjoy. You can discover something about your Caribbean neighbors, try flavors from places you’ve never visited and perhaps find inspiration for your next Caribbean vacation.”
Guests may also meet participating Caribbean destination representatives and learn about opportunities to explore the region firsthand.
Beyond the Cakes: A Caribbean Culinary Adventure
The festival’s curated Food Court offers a mini culinary tour, with specialties from vendors including Soups of the Caribbean, Creole Island Rolls, Chef Paul’s Macaroni Boss Bar and Grilled Stuffed Lobster, alongside other regional offerings available for purchase.
For guests 21 and older, the premium Rum Room offers multiple tastings of distinctive Caribbean spirits and cocktails curated by Coconuts & Cocktails. Featured brands include Travellers One Barrel Rum and Cuello’s Caribbean Rum from Belize, El Dorado Rum from Guyana, Mighty Sparrow XO Trinidad Spiced Rum, Melky Jean’s Saint Sauveur 1972 Haitian Heritage Rum and Pòtieri’s Caribbean-inspired passion fruit cocktail. Rum purveyors will introduce guests to the region’s diverse rum-making traditions.
The Caribbean Holiday Marketplace adds gifts, art, specialty products and seasonal shopping to the afternoon.
Holiday Traditions Come Alive
The cultural program showcases distinctive holiday traditions from across the Caribbean. Brukins Entertainment presents Jamaican Jonkonnu, Island Groove Entertainment brings Bahamian Junkanoo and Sikan Afro-Cuban Dance Project performs Puerto Rican bomba and plena. Haitian Fanal lantern-making and Festival of Lights activities add a French-Caribbean holiday dimension.
Festival host Raul Blaze keeps the afternoon lively with music, trivia, giveaways and audience interaction, joined by DJ Bigg G, Melo Groove Steel Orchestra and Bootleg Greg for a rum demonstration.
“Having hosted and performed at so many Caribbean events over the years, one thing I’ve always appreciated is how much we have in common despite our cultural differences,” said Blaze. “What excites me most about this festival is the opportunity to celebrate that distinctiveness through something as simple and meaningful as food. I want people to come, laugh, learn something about each other’s cultures, and leave feeling a little more connected.”
From 25 Guests to more than 1,000
The South Florida staging of the festival was launched in 2022 with 25 guests at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum. Attendance grew to approximately 300 in 2023 and 2024, then to approximately 700 in 2025. Organizers are preparing to welcome more than 1,000 guests for the fifth-anniversary celebration.
EVENT DETAILS
When: Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 2–6 p.m.
Where: The Venue Fort Lauderdale, 2345 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL 33305
General admission: $30 through Nov. 14; $40 at the door
Children: $10 for ages 4–12; free for children 3 and younger
Rum Room: $75 through Nov. 14; $85 at the door; ages 21 and older; includes general admission
Tickets: General admission and premium Rum Room experiences at islandspacefl.org/cakefest26
About the Presenters
Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history, culture, and artistic contributions of the Caribbean. Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, located at the Broward Mall in Plantation, Florida, is the only pan-Caribbean heritage museum in the world.
Museum Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 8000 West Broward Blvd., Suite 1202, Plantation, FL 33388
Admission: $20 adults | $10 children under 12
Visit www.islandspacefl.org or call 954-999-0989 for more information.
Caribbean Professionals Network (CPN) provides a dynamic platform for Caribbean professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders to connect across industries, share knowledge and build relationships through business, cultural and professional exchange. CPN’s programs include networking activities, educational workshops, topical speaker series, forums, civic engagement initiatives and cultural events—all designed to strengthen collaboration and celebrate Caribbean excellence.
