Island SPACE Caribbean Museum to Host Fourth Annual Caribbean Rum Cake Fest at New Location
Part proceeds will benefit hurricane relief efforts. Attendees are encouraged to donate supplies.
Plantation, Fla. — Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, in collaboration with Caribbean Professionals Network and a lineup of South Florida’s finest bakers, invites the community to celebrate the holiday season at the fourth annual Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest. The event will take place on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Volunteer Park Community Center, 12050 West Sunrise Boulevard, Plantation, FL 33323. Part proceeds will be donated to Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in the Caribbean.
Beloved across generations and islands, rum cake and black cake are symbols of family, festivity and Caribbean culinary tradition. This year’s festival will be the most exciting yet, expanding beyond cake tastings to feature new attractions and immersive experiences that bring the warmth of Caribbean holiday traditions to life.
Guests will sample a delicious variety of traditional rum cakes and black cakes—dark, spiced fruitcakes cherished across the English-speaking Caribbean—while enjoying an atmosphere filled with music, laughter, and the scent of island spices.
Tickets are $25 pre-sold and $30 at the door, available now at islandspacefl.org/cakefest25.
To assist trusted organizations coordinating post-hurricane recovery efforts across the Caribbean, the Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest will serve as a one-day drop-off location for relief supplies. Attendees are encouraged to bring new cases of canned goods, bottled water, diapers, and personal hygiene products such as toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and sanitary napkins.
Exciting New Features for 2025
Guyanese bakers engage with American guests in a delicious cultural exchange. Photo by RJ Deed (Content Factory)
For the first time, attendees can step inside an exclusive, curated “Rum Room” — a 21+ experience offered only to pre-sold ticket holders. Guests will enjoy guided tastings and demonstrations featuring Caribbean rums and liqueurs. Rum Room sessions are limited and will take place at 2:15 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:15 p.m. On-site registration is not available for the Rum Room.
In addition to wide variety of rum cakes, the 2025 event will also include:
- Holiday beverages available for sampling and sale
- Traditional performances representing cultures from across the Caribbean
- A lively holiday marketplace featuring Caribbean artisans and vendors
- Caribbean holiday music to keep the festive spirit high
These enhancements are designed to make the cake festival more culturally enriching, interactive and engaging, transforming it into a true celebration of Caribbean creativity and community.
Supporting Diverse Caribbean Entrepreneurs and Hurricane Relief Efforts
Bakers represent nations including Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
The Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest continues the museum’s mission to celebrate Caribbean culture while supporting small, diverse, minority-led businesses.
“Rum cake and black cake are the ultimate unifiers in Caribbean culture,” said Calibe Thompson, Island SPACE co-founder and executive director. “This year, with the Rum Room and new cultural experiences, we’re offering even more ways for people to taste, toast, and truly feel the spirit of the islands together.”
“With so many in our Caribbean family impacted by recent hurricanes,” she continued, “we’re turning this celebration into an opportunity to give back. Guests can bring new, packaged relief items, and we’ll contribute part of the event’s proceeds to support recovery on the islands.”
The Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest is supported in part by the Broward County Cultural Division, the Community Reinvestment Alliance of Florida and the City of Plantation.
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 across the diaspora.
Island SPACE Caribbean 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, FL 33388. Museum Admission: $15 adults | $5 children under 12. Group tours available by reservation. Visit islandspacefl.org or call 954-999-0989 for details.
