by Anne Evans
(In the Cayman Islands, There is Always a Reason to Celebrate …)
Caymanians enjoy a celebration. The first year we were here, I began to think that nearly every Monday was a national holiday. I’ve already blogged about some of the holidays celebrated on The Cayman Islands (TCI) that are familiar to Americans, and the nuances regarding how Caymanians celebrated them. However, Caymanians have their own unique holidays as well as recognize many observed by the Brits; not a surprise, given that TCI are a British Overseas Territory.
When there is an official Public Holiday, government offices, schools, banks and even most businesses are closed! It is a true day off for the general population. Observances are days where events are celebrated or remembered, similar to holidays. However, while Public Holidays usually grant a day off from work, observances don’t.
Public Holidays and Observances in The Cayman Islands in 2025
Here are the special days we enjoy in the Cayman Islands . . .
New Years Day: Wednesday January 1, 2025 – Public Holiday
National Heroes Day: Monday January 27, 2025 – Public Holiday
In 1993, TCI Legislative Assembly passed the National Heroes Law providing for the declaration of persons who have rendered exceptional service as national heroes. It is celebrated annually on the fourth Monday in January.
Valentines Day: Friday February 14. 2025 – Observance
This day originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. On TCI, it has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of love.
Ash Wednesday: Wednesday March 5, 2025 – Public Holiday
Caymanians are largely a community of Christians. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent for Christians worldwide and marks the beginning of the Lenten fast. The Lenten fast lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays) and ends on Holy Saturday, which is the day before Easter Sunday.
Commonwealth Day: Monday March 10, 2025 – Observance
Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the (British) Commonwealth of Nations – 56 independent nations that voluntarily accept the sovereign of Great Britain as their head of state. It is held on the second Monday in March and was initially conceived to celebrate the British Empire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Day. Observances of the date are not uniform across the Commonwealth and in TCI the date is observed with a flag-raising ceremony, but is not celebrated as a public holiday. Cayman marks Commonwealth Day – Cayman Compass
Good Friday: Friday April 18, 2025 – Public Holiday
Caymanian Christians observe Good Friday on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s Passion, crucifixion, and death.
Easter Sunday: Sunday April 20, 2025 – Observance
Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death. This day ─ and in fact all of Easter Weekend ─ is one of the most festive and unique celebrations among Caymanian Christians. For example, every year hundreds of Caymanians descend on its beaches to set up camp for Holy Week.
From East End to West Bay, from Barker’s Beaches to South Sound, the tents appear.
Easter Monday: Monday April 21, 2025 – Public Holiday
Easter Monday is considered by many to be a day to enjoy the time outdoors – which is certainly in keeping with the Caymanian custom to camp on the beaches throughout Holy Week.
General Election Day (Tentative) Wednesday April 30, 2025 – Public Holiday
TCI elect a legislature on the territorial level. The Parliament has 21 members, 19 elected members for a four-year term in 19 single member constituencies and 2 members ex officio. See Elections in the Cayman Islands – Wikipedia.
Emancipation Day: Monday May 5, 2025 – Public Holiday
Emancipation Day was formally recognized and reinstated in May 2024, replacing Discovery Day as a public holiday on that date. Emancipation Day was first observed in TCI on May 5, 1835 when Captain Anthony Pack, 84th Regiment of Foot and Colonel in Chief of the Militia of the Cayman Islands, read a Proclamation to the assembled inhabitants of Bodden Town, both black and white, that slavery had come to an end in TCI. It is now commemorated on the 1st Monday in May.
Mother’s Day : Sunday May 11, 2025 – Observance
A day for people to show their appreciation towards mothers and mother figures. On TCI, Mothers are celebrated during religious ceremonies as well as at festive Sunday Brunches. Personally, I find it to be far less commercialized in TCI than in the US.
Discovery Day: Monday May 19, 2025 – Public Holiday
Discovery Day is celebrated in TCI on the third Monday of May. It commemorates the discovery of TCI Sister Islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman by Christopher Columbus on May 10 1503.
Father’s Day: Sunday May 15, 2025 – Observance
A day for people to show their appreciation towards fathers and father figures. On TCI, Fathers are celebrated during religious ceremonies as well as at festive Sunday Brunches. Like the Mother’s Day celebration, I find Father’s Day to be far less commercialized in TCI than in the US.
King Charles III Birthday (Tentative): Monday June 23, 2025 – Public Holiday
The Sovereign’s official birthday celebration in TCI is “The Monday following the Saturday appointed in the United Kingdom as the official birthday of the reigning sovereign.”
“It does not necessarily correspond to the date of the monarch’s actual birth.” King’s Official Birthday – Wikipedia. Following an announcement by the British authorities in December 2022, the official birthday of King Charles III will be celebrated on the third Saturday in June each year. As of this writing, the confirmation regarding the date of the King’s Birthday 2025 public holiday in TCI is awaited but is assumed to be Monday June 23rd.
Constitution Day: Monday July 7, 2025 – Public Holiday
On July 4th, 1959, the first written constitution for TCI took effect. Since then, the first Monday in July every year is celebrated as Cayman Islands Constitution Day – although that original constitution is no longer in effect as three more written constitutions have been created since 1959.
Remembrance Day: Monday November 10, 2025 – Public Holiday
Annually on the second Monday of November, TCI pay tribute to the veterans who defended their country during World War I by marking the day as a public holiday and with a memorial service. A parade is generally held also on the preceding Sunday to mark the occasion. This public holiday originates from a British tradition. Remembrance Day in the Cayman Islands / November 10, 2025.
Cayman Thanksgiving: Sunday December 7, 2025 – Observance
To commemorate the official passage of the Atlantic hurricane season which ends on 30th November, Cayman Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Sunday in December. Whilst not a public holiday, this observance was agreed in Cabinet and is officially recognized as part of the national calendar.
Christmas Eve: Wednesday December 24, 2025 – Observance
Although not a Public Holiday in TCI, Christmas Eve is celebrated by Caymanian Christians much as it would be by Christians in the UK, Canada and the US.
Christmas Day: Thursday December 25, 2025 – Public Holiday
Christmas Day is one of the most festive Christian holidays in TCI with holiday preparations and celebrations starting as early as November 1st. Churches have special services, and although Church services on TCI are always well attended, during the Christmas season attendance is overflowing.
Boxing Day: Friday December 26, 2025 – Public Holiday
Boxing Day was once a day to donate gifts to those in need, however it has evolved to become a part of Christmas festivities, with many people choosing to shop for deals on Boxing Day. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations, including TCI. Boxing Day’s attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place on 27 or 28 of December if necessary to ensure it falls on a weekday. Although Boxing Day marks one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year in the UK because of its incredible discounts, such is NOT the case in TCI. It is a Public Holiday, and nearly all businesses are closed.
Public Holidays and Observances| Cayman Islands Government
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/cayman-islands/2025
Public Holidays Law (2007 Revision)
Festivals in The Cayman Islands in 2025
In addition to the Public and Observed Holidays listed above, there are numerous Festivals, Cultural, and Sporting Events held throughout the year. In fact, you can always find something being celebrated on one or all of TCI. The following are links to listings of events and below that, a brief synopsis of a few of my favorites that recur on an annual basis.
https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us/events
https://www.explorecayman.com/events/annual-events
Agricultural Show March 5, 2025
For an authentic taste of the Cayman Islands, attend The Agricultural Show. The Show is held annually on Ash Wednesday in Grand Cayman and later in the year in the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The ‘Ag Show’ is a great place to enjoy local produce, food, and handmade crafts. Additionally, there are livestock displays, performances, and a petting zoo.
Taste of Cayman Generally held in April
Taste of Cayman Food & Drink Festival has been held every year on Grand Cayman for more than thirty years. Every year, the festival hosts about 4,000 local guests and tourists who come to stroll through the 40 participating restaurants to sample the various dishes, the great wines and the variety of liqueurs and brews.
Cayman Art Week Generally held in May
Cayman Art Week (CAW) is a week-long curated program of Gallery tours and open Studios designed to celebrate and encourage the collection of art in the Cayman Islands. CAW showcases a range of discussions, Pop-Up interventions, and exhibitions to local and international audiences.
Flowers Sea Swim June 14, 2025
The Flowers Sea Swim is Grand Cayman’s flagship sporting event – each year hosting almost 1000 registered participants. Participants vary in age from 8 to 80 years old ─ and in skill from novices and first-timers to gold medal Olympians and world championship open water specialists coming from around the globe. All swim registration proceeds are donated to the Swim Free Program.
Pirates Week November 9-19, 2025
The Pirates Week (actually, it lasts more than a week) opens with a spectacles marine show where, appearing out of old-time sailing vessels, mock pirates disembark onto the shore of Grand Cayman. It is a unique festival that offers:
- Festive parades
- Disguised competitions
- Live music shows
- Street dance
- Art and handmade crafts stands
- Fireworks exhibitions, and more …
With so many reasons to celebrate, is it really any surprise why Caymanians are always smiling and friendly?
