Plantation, Fla.: Island SPACE Caribbean Museum and Caribbean Professionals Network are excited to announce the third annual Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest, set to take place on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, from 2 to 6 p.m. This event, presented in collaboration with various South Florida bakers from throughout the Caribbean, promises to be a celebration of Caribbean culture and culinary diversity. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample a variety of traditional Spanish, French and Dutch Caribbean rum cakes and the beloved black cake — dark fruit or plum pudding cakes popular across the English-speaking Caribbean.
Experience a Taste of Caribbean Flavors
With a donation of $15 per person for pre-sold tickets and $20 on site, guests can enjoy tastings of festive cakes alongside light holiday beverages. Visitors can decide which tropical flavors they’d like to bring to their Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. After sampling the cakes, guests can purchase slices or whole cakes or place orders for holiday celebrations and other special events. Attendees are also welcome to explore the museum, where they can learn more about the rich history, culture, and art of the Caribbean.
Highlighting the diversity of the Caribbean, this year’s event will feature bakers representing a broad array of 16 countries and islands including Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Virgin Islands.
Supporting Local and Diverse Entrepreneurs
This event not only celebrates Caribbean culture but also supports local small businesses owned by Black, Hispanic, women, and other diverse entrepreneurs. It aligns with the mission of Island SPACE to elevate the profile of Caribbean culture throughout the diaspora.
The Rum Cake and Black Cake Fest was first presented by Caribbean Professionals Network in Washington, D.C., where it received an overwhelmingly positive response. The inaugural Island SPACE staging launched in November 2022. Following a successful second event in 2023, Island SPACE is anticipating an even greater turnout this year.
Guests will have the chance to win copies of “Taste the Islands: Culinary Adventures in a Caribbean Kitchen,” “The Cake Bible,” and desserts cookbooks from Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Island SPACE board president Calibe Thompson expressed enthusiasm for the event, saying, “Rum cake and black cake are quintessentially Caribbean foods. They are a genuine cultural connector of all our nations. This was one of our best-attended annual events in 2023, and we expect it to grow more each year. People have an amazing time enjoying the entertainment and togetherness vibes—they don’t want to leave!”
For more information about the Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest, visit islandspacefl.org/cakefest24.
The Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest is made possible in part by the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Broward County Cultural Division, “King” George Jograj, Dr. Lydia Malcom of Authentic Behavioral Health LLC, and her husband, Mr. Waynewright Malcolm, and the following funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Judith Cornfeld Fund for the Arts, Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund and Samuel F. Morrison Community Impact Fund.
About Island SPACE
Island Society for the Promotion of Artistic and Cultural Education (Island SPACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of arts, culture, history, and educational initiatives representing the Caribbean region in South Florida and the broader diaspora community.
To learn more about Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, visit islandspacefl.org and follow them on social media. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Broward Mall, 8000 West Broward Blvd., Suite 1202, Plantation, Florida 33388. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children. Group tours are available by reservation. Visit our website, call 954-999-0989, or email [email protected] for more information.
