From PGA champions to Puerto Rican dragon boats, February 2014 will be an exciting month for the Caribbean region. We’ve put together of six events worth checking out across the Caribbean, from reggae in Jamaica to carnival in Bonaire.
Taste of Cayman 2014
Following the high-profile Cayman Cookout in January, Taste of Cayman is another terrific culinary event in Grand Cayman. It will feature a chef competition, a demo kitchen, a mixology competition and more, with local band Swanky Kitchen set to perform. The festival begins Feb. 8.
Carnival in Bonaire
It’s billed as the largest cultural event on this Dutch Caribbean island, and while Bonaire may be small, its Carnival punches far above its weight. The festival begins on Feb. 22 in teh town of Rincon.
Golf in St Kitts and Nevis
Golf is a big deal in the twin-island federation of St Kitts and Nevis, and February will be full of golfing opportunities, including the famous Admiral’s Cup Pro-AM at the Royall St Kitts Golf Club (Feb. 2 through 6) and a golf clinic at the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis led by former PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel (above), from Feb. 23 to Feb. 27. It’s part of a major golfing push for the country, which is eyeing more tournaments and clinics in the future.
Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference
This is the leading energy conference in the Caribbean’s energy production leader. The conference, which lasts Feb. 3 to Feb. 4, is being hosted at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Former US Energy Secretary Steven Chu will be one of the featured speakers.
Dragon Boats in Puerto Rico
This year will be the second-ever holding of the Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival, which will bring together more than 400 athletes and 43 teams in a race of dragon boats in the Embalse Cerrillos reservoir in Ponce, beginning Feb. 1. Dragon boats are a form of paddle canoe.
Reggae Month — Jamaica
Not as much a single event as a month-long celebration, Jamaica will focus on its signature musical form for the entirety of February across almost two dozen events.
A celebration of cigars in the Dominican Republic
The annual Procigar Festival is one of the leading cigar festivals in the world, bringing together consumers, manufacturers, retailers and more. This year’s fete will be hosted at the Casa de Campo resort in La Romana, beginning Feb. 16 and lasting through Feb. 21.