Join in the Celebrations!
Constitution Anniversary
Activities & Events
June
Celebrate with Culture
Cultural Breakfast | Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa & Radio Cayman 89.9FM
Saturday 29 June 2019
7:30am - 10:00am
A cultural breakfast, hosted by the Honourable Premier Alden McLaughlin, will be held at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa to celebrate the Cayman Islands’ special relationship with Jamaica and the United Kingdom. Invited guests include heads of Governments from the British Overseas Territories, representatives from Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora in the Cayman Islands, members of the clergy, and the Constitutional Commission. The 1959 Legislative Assembly of Justices and Vestry, which enacted the first Constitution, will be represented by family members. The proceedings will be carried live on Radio Cayman 89.9FM.
June
Celebrate with Sport / International All-Star Charity Football Match
International All-Star Charity Football Match | Truman Bodden Sports Complex
Saturday 29 June 2019
Gates Open 3:00pm
Free Admission
Football legends from the United Kingdom and the Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands, will play a charity exhibition football match at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex starting at 6pm. Yesteryear's football stars such as Premier League legends – Gianfranco Zola (Italy), Shaka Hislop (Trinidad & Tobago), Ricardo Gardener (Jamaica), Darren Moore (Jamaica), Sean Davis (England), and Pascal Chimbonda (France) along with Jamaica Reggae Boyz legends Walter Boyd, Onandi Lowe and Cayman Islands National Team greats Lee Ramoon, Gillie Seymour, Antonio Smith, Richard Hew, among many others will be part of this charity football match. This event is another on the Cayman Islands 2019 calendar that further reinforces our reputation as a sports tourism venue in which to host top class sporting events.
June
Celebrate with Community / Church Service
Thanksgiving Church Service | Elmslie Memorial Church & Radio Cayman 89.9FM
Sunday 30 June 2019
10:30am
All are invited to a church service at Elmslie Memorial will offer attendees a time to reflect on and give thanks for the journey the Cayman Islands has made over the past 60 years. The service will be carried live on Radio Cayman 89.9FM.
July
Celebrate with History / Town Hall Ceremony
Town Hall Ceremony | Downtown George Town
Monday 1 July 2019
9:00am - 11:00am
All are invited to a special event on the public holiday morning to celebrate the significance of this historic building in the nation’s capital. A traditional Caymanian breakfast will follow.
July
Celebrate with Knowledge / Radio Roundable
Constitution Radio Roundtable | Radio Cayman 89.9FM
Thursday 4 July 2019
7:30am – 10:00am & 12:15pm – 2:30pm
For an in-depth look at the first Constitution’s provisions and subsequent evolution to our present day guiding document, tune in to Radio Cayman 89.9FM on Thursday, 4 July, during For the Record and Talk Today for the Constitution Radio Roundtable. Special guests include attorney Steve McField, former Speaker of the House Honourable Mary Lawrence, Chairman of the Constitutional Commission Vaughan Carter, and policy analyst Jason Webster. Both shows will be hosted by Orrett Connor.
Coat of Arms Anniversary
Activities & Events
May
Celebrate with Caymankind / U. K. Reception
60th Anniversary Reception | Durbar Court, London, United Kingdom
Monday 14 May 2018
6:00pm - 9:00pm
The Honourable Premier hosted a reception at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office where guests were treated to warm Caymanian hospitality and experience Cayman's rich culture through a taste of local food and drink including our award-winning Caybrew beer and Tortuga Rum Cake, the sounds of live local music by Swanky Kitchen Band, live thatch rope making demonstrations and plaiting by some of Cayman's best crafters, and the opportunity to get up close and personal with our islands' national dress worn by students and other Caymanians living in the United Kingdom. It was an evening of culture, celebration, and Caymankind.
June
Celebrate with Ceremony / Official Launch Ceremony
Official Launch Ceremony | Glass House Lawn, Grand Cayman
Monday 4 June 2018
10:00am - 11:30am
All are invited to the lawn of the former Government Administration Building to officially launch the year-long national festivities to Celebrate Cayman. The morning ceremony will include a re-enactment of the Coat of Arms proclamation, remarks from Government officials, a first look at featured initiatives and activities for the coming year, and a tasting of a local breakfast favourite prepared by some of the Cayman Islands' best home cooks.
June
Celebrate with Fun! / Start of Summer Festival
Summer Festival | George Town Harbourfront
Saturday 23 June 2018
4:00pm - Midnight
Downtown George Town is the site of the Celebrate Cayman Summer Festival to kick off the year-long celebration with energy and excitement along the beautiful harbourfront area. Whether you enjoy the sounds of local voices, creative work by visual artists, savouring culinary delicacies, making your own crafts, exploring fascinating history, or simply love being outdoors, you are invited to come out to an enchanting evening that is sure to be a rich multi-sensory experience.
August - November
Celebrate with Curiosity / Did You Know? Historical Information Media Campaign
Local Media Campaign | Radio Cayman 89.9FM and Kiss 106.1FM
Begins Monday 27 August 2018
Beginning Monday 27 August, be sure to listen to Radio Cayman's Talk Today from 12:10pm - 2:30pm to hear fascinating facts and information about the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms. Every weekday, one listener will win a Celebrate Cayman prize bundle with memorabilia commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Coat of Arms.
Also, listen to Kiss 107.1FM on weekdays at 8:10am as Celebrate Cayman and the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands partner to share highlights of the arts, culture, and history of the Cayman Islands.
September - February
Celebrate across the Islands / Travelling District Displays
Mini Travelling Displays | Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman
Wednesday 12 September - Saturday 23 February 2018
The Cayman Islands National Museum has curated a mini exhibit focused on culture, history, and the story of the Coat of Arms that will be travelling throughout the Cayman Islands.
The exhibit also includes special educational programming that is designed to encourage discussion, thought, and learning about the Cayman Islands identity.
What's more, Celebrate Cayman is partnering with Cayman Airways for the national airline's 50th anniversary for a fun, entertaining, community gathering on select weekends during the district display period.
September
Celebrate with Ceremony / Sister Islands Ceremony
Royal Warrant Unveiling | District Administration Building, Cayman Brac
Thursday 6 September 2018
9:00am - 10:30am
All are invited to the lawn of the District Administration Building in Cayman Brac and welcome the Royal Warrant to the Sister Islands. The morning ceremony will include an unveiling of the Royal Warrant, remarks from Government officials, local entertainment, and a tasting of local breakfast favourites. The original Royal Warrant was lost in a fire at the old Government administration building in 1972, so the acquiring and unveiling of a copy of the original Royal Warrant was an important moment for people in Cayman because it underscored the significance of the Coat of Arms as the first symbol of Cayman Islands identity.
October
Celebrate with Food / Cayman Restaurant Month
Cayman Restaurant Month | Grand Cayman
Monday 1 October - Wednesday 31 October 2018
Celebrate Cayman is collaborating with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association to tastefully infuse history, culture, and the Coat of Arms story into diners' Restaurant Month experience
Restaurant Month, which runs Monday 1 October through Wednesday 31 October, welcomes diners to enjoy lunch or dinner price-fixe menus at participating restaurants. Delicious 3-course menus start at $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner with additional wine/drink paring (at participating restaurants). The great value offering gives people the opportunity to dine out—either to try new restaurants or return to old favourites. There are enough options that one can enjoy a new lunch and dinner spot each day during Restaurant Month.
Stay tuned to learn more about this tasty collaboration.
October
Celebrate with Heritage / Brac Heritage Autumn Festival
Brac Heritage Autumn Festival | Cayman Brac
Friday 12 October - Sunday 14 October 2018
Join the Brac Heritage Autumn Festival Committee to celebrate Caymanian heritage, culture, and the arts. This annual event, now in its fourth year, offers a variety of arts and cultural events celebrating Cayman’s creative community.
This year's lineup includes an open mic and canvas night, a children's float parade, the Sister Islands Heritage Day, and a seaside old-fashioned church service. Celebrate Cayman is supporting this year's Brac events by presenting the "He Hath Founded It Upon the Seas" concert featuring traditional and contemporary gospel music. The concert is inspired by the motto on the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms.
October
Celebrate with Philately / Coat of Arms $2 Stamp
Coat of Arms $2 Stamp Issued | Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman
Friday 19 October 2018
The Cayman Islands Postal Service has issued a new $2 stamp to participate in the ongoing year-long celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms. The single stamp issue depicts the Coat of Arms against a blue background and mentions the 60th anniversary. The stamp is available in a souvenir sheet format. The background for the souvenir sheet displays the National Flag along with the Celebrate Cayman branding. The stamps are on sale all post offices on all three islands including the Hell Post Office, the Philatelic Bureau at the West Shore Centre Post Office as well as the General Post Office downtown Grand Cayman.
“Our Coat of Arms has an interesting history which the Cayman Islands is marking with the ongoing ‘Celebrate Cayman’ initiative. So we are delighted to be taking part in the 60th anniversary celebrations with this latest stamp issue,” commented Postmaster General, Ms Sheena Glasgow.
November
Celebrate with Dinner & Conversation / The Beloved Table Dinner
A National Dinner Party | Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman
Thursday 29 November - Sunday 2 December 2018
Come together for a meaningful conversation about the Cayman Islands’ future while enjoying delicious, local food.
As a part of the 60th anniversary of the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms, Celebrate Cayman is encouraging the people of the Cayman Islands to attend or host Beloved Table Dinners where we can talk about our vision for our country and the well-being of all of those who call the Cayman Islands home.
These dinners will harness the power of gathering around a table to break bread, to build community, and inspire thought and action. Our greatest hope is that ideas sparked at these dinners will translate into meaningful collaborations in the months ahead.
You can participate in the Beloved Table Dinner as an attendee or a host, at the farm-to-table dinner or at home.
The Beloved Table Dinner is being held around and to honour Cayman Thanksgiving.
December
Celebrate with Thanksgiving / Cayman Thanksgiving
Cayman Thanksgiving | Across the Islands. Around the World.
Sunday 2 December 2018
Cayman Thanksgiving is observed annually on the first Sunday in December giving our community an opportunity to express gratitude, mark the passage of the hurricane season and celebrate Caymanian traditions. Festivities for Cayman Thanksgiving commence on the weekend preceding the first Sunday in December.
Cayman Thanksgiving designates a time in the Cayman Islands that brings a greater and more specific focus on Caymanian heritage and culture. Borne out of love for our country and in the spirit of humility, kindness and service, this weekend-long national celebration brings family, friends and neighbours together to express gratitude, mark the passage of the hurricane season and celebrate a “Caymankind” of holiday. As an open invitation to all to experience Caymanian culture first-hand, we reach out to the Caymanian diaspora and other people of the world who feel a sense of connection to our Islands.
Cayman Thanksgiving showcases a mosaic of Caymanian experiences that portray our Caymanian culture and values and promote the celebration of all things Caymanian. Cayman Thanksgiving can be celebrated by everyone in the Cayman Islands, the Caymanian diaspora and other people of the world who have an affinity for these Islands.
December
Celebrate with History / Coat of Arms Exhibit
Cayman Islands National Museum Coat of Arms Exhibit | George Town, Grand Cayman
Opening Celebration Saturday 15 December 2018
Through its dynamic programmes, exhibits and collections, the National Museum is the living connection to Cayman's past. The National Museum ensures that future generations have the opportunity to experience our island's unique natural and cultural heritage.
Opening in December, the National Museum takes a look back at the story of the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms - its genesis, impact, influence, and more. The first national symbol of the Cayman Islands is more than an image and this exhibit shows us how and why.
January
Celebrate with our Heroes / National Heroes Day
National Heroes Day: Celebrating the Creation of our Coat of Arms | Heroes Square, Downtown George Town
Monday 28 January 2019
9:00am
For this year’s National Heroes Day, we’ll be celebrating the establishment of our first national symbol, the Coat of Arms, honouring the people who served the Cayman Islands at that time, recognising organisations that have served our community for over 50 years, and celebrating our community’s journey to modern day Cayman Islands. National Heroes Day is also a time to recognise our national heroes and show our national pride.
Our Coat of Arms is the Cayman Islands’ first internationally recognised symbol of identity and its rich imagery tells the story of who we are, our history, our culture, our earliest industries, our constitutional relationship and our faith.
The ceremony begins at 9am and refreshments will follow the celebrations. All are invited to celebrate Cayman and National Heroes Day on 28 January 2019.
March
Celebrate with Royalty / Royal Visit Celebration & Investiture Ceremony
Royal Visit Celebration & Investiture Ceremony | Pedro St James, Savannah, Grand Cayman
Thursday 28 March 2019
5:30pm - 8:30pm
All are invited to special celebration in honour of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, including an investiture ceremony and reception.
Please see public invitation for parking and other guest information.
Celebrate with Education / The Thatch Rope Times Student Publication
The Thatch Rope Times
Publish Dates: March, June
The Thatch Rope Times is a special publication designed especially for students across the Cayman Islands. The publication's underlying focus is the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms and the content will capture the interest of readers of all ages in a format that is fun and appealing.
We very much look forward to seeing how our Cayman Islands Coat of Arms will be interpreted through the eyes, minds, and hearts of students.
Students will be co-producing the content with the Celebrate Cayman team and so we know that The Thatch Rope Times will be entertaining and informative and filled with a mixture of articles, photo-stories, interactive games and puzzles. This publication will educate and reinforce the key aspects of our Islands’ first national symbol.
June
Celebrate with Giving Back / 60 Acts of Service
Celebrate Cayman 60 Acts of Service | Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman
Saturday 1 June - Sunday 2 June 2019
Celebrate Cayman 60 Acts of Service is inspired by a growing global movement changing how people collaborate and interact with their communities. This is a weekend-long national community service and impact initiative. Residents and visitors across all 3 islands transform the community through interventions: actions, events, or installations that inspire action and connection.
Do you have a project idea? Do you want to get involved?
