Cake heaven. (And rum, too.)
Cresdit: RJ Deed
Cake lovers, clear your calendars and bring those appetites.
On Sunday, November 15, the fifth annual Rum Cake & Caribbean Black Cake Festival is hitting The Venue Fort Lauderdale in Wilton Manors, serving up an afternoon of sugary, boozy Caribbean goodness. Presented by Island SPACE Caribbean Museum in collaboration with the Caribbean Professionals Network, the indoor festival runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at 2345 Wilton Drive. Tickets start at $30 in advance, with higher prices at the door.
The festival has grown from just 25 attendees in 2022 to approximately 700 in 2025, with organizers anticipating more than 1,000 this year.
“There’s a joy that lights people up inside this festival that I haven’t seen anywhere else—that’s what happens when you mix Caribbean spirit with the holiday vibe,” Calibe Thompson, co-founder and executive director of Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, tells Browardist.
More than 20 bakers representing over 20 Caribbean countries and territories will dish out samples of golden rum cakes, fruit-packed black cakes and other holiday treats. Guests can taste before buying, then stock up for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The lineup includes celebrity chef Paul Griffith of Barbados and Bread Pudding Company; Food Network champion Chef Jamal Lake of Ganache Bakery, representing the U.S. Virgin Islands; Haiti's Yole's Delight Pastry, serving kremas rum fruit cake; and Grenada-born third-generation baker Alicia Samms of LimitlessDelights LLC.
Beyond cake, expect a Caribbean food court featuring Chef Paul's Macaroni Boss Bar, grilled stuffed lobster, soups and Creole island rolls. There's also a Holiday Marketplace, cocktail bar and a premium Rum Room upgrade for guests 21 and older, featuring guided rum tastings and gourmet bites.
Entertainment includes Jamaican Jonkonnu, Bahamian Junkanoo, steelpan and Bomba and Plena performances by Sikan Afro-Cuban Dance Project. Raul Blaze hosts, with music by Bigg G.
“I’m especially excited that the premium Rum Room, authentic holiday entertainment, curated food court and Holiday Marketplace now give guests a fuller picture of how the region celebrates. More than one in four South Florida residents has Caribbean roots, and at Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, we know that what we don’t share and celebrate can be lost. This festival keeps us connected, enriches the mind and soul, not just the belly, and supports the world’s only pan-Caribbean heritage museum,” Thompson adds.
