Sand instead of snow. Flip flops instead of galoshes. Rum punch instead of eggnog. Welcome to Christmas in Cayman Islands. Whether you’re rockin’ around the Christmas tree or enjoying a silent night, the Caymans are a breezy, balmy locale to enjoy this special holiday.
A tour we think you'll love
Spend A Special Cayman Islands Christmas Swimming With Stingrays
Whether you’ve been naughty or nice – we just want you to have the time of your life on Captain Marvin’s Christmas stingray adventure. Experience swimming with stingrays, being hugged by one or even kissing one.
Nicknamed “puppies of the sea,” these playful creatures will give you a special Christmas unlike any other. Reserve your spot today and dive into the holiday magic with stingrays!
Be On The Lookout For Santa Sightings
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Santa Claus in the Cayman Islands! During Yuletide, St. Nick makes many special visits around the island to spread Christmas cheer. Whether clad in traditional red and white garb or rocking a Hawaiian shirt and flip flops, Santa can be spotted at numerous locations and events including:
Cayman Islands Christmas Parade
For the Georgetown annual Christmas parade, Santa rides one of the colorful floats as he waves merrily to the crowd. The parade also features marching bands and local dance troupes.
Pro Tip: Keep tabs on parade announcements during Christmas in Grand Cayman, as the parade’s exact date and time can vary from year to year.
Camana Bay
Santa Claus is coming to town – Camana Bay, to be exact. Shedding his traditional suit for laid-back shorts, tropical shirt and flip flops, Caribbean Santa will spread holiday cheer and take photos with you that capture special Cayman Islands Christmas magic.
Harbour Walk
Kids can share their wish list and take free photos with Santa during his festive Cayman Islands Harbour Walk appearance.
Santa’s Landing
Santa will be parking his sleigh outside the Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman for the festive Santa’s Landing annual festivities. Family-friendly fun includes face painting, a bouncy castle, bungee trampolines, music and refreshments. All children can meet Santa and even a receive a free gift.
Enjoy The Amazing Singing Christmas Tree
During this magical Christmas in the Cayman, a Christmas tree can sing! Actually, an 80-member choir perched on six tiers of a 25-foot-tall, artificial tree sings. Their voices unite in soaring Christmas carols depicting the story of Jesus’ birth.
Twenty-seven feet across, draped with ornate garlands and adorned with 5,000 twinkling lights, the tree is the spectacular centerpiece for a production that also includes a vibrant cast and orchestra.
Good To Know: The Cayman Islands singing Christmas tree can now be found at the Lion’s Centre instead of the First Assembly of God Church.
Awesome Annual Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Tree lightings are one of the most beloved, time-honored Christmas events in the Cayman Islands. Ushering in the Christmas season, tree lighting ceremonies are festive, joyous events that are off-limits to all Scrooges and Grinches!
Two can’t-miss Christmas tree lightings are:
Grand Cayman Rotary Club Annual Tree Lighting
Hosted annually in Heroes Square by the Grand Cayman Rotary Club, the lively, annual tree lighting is for friends and family, old and young. In addition to the tree lighting, holiday season festivities may include:
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Children singing Christmas carols
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Dance performances
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Steel pan music
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Visit by St. Nick
Camana Bay Christmas Tree Lighting And Holiday Market
With the flip of a switch, the Christmas season has officially started in Camana Bay. A tradition cherished by both residents and visitors, Camana’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony captures the wonder and magic of Christmas in the Cayman Islands with attractions including:
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Glittering, 40-foot-tall Christmas tree
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Stunning fireworks display
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Christmas evening market featuring various food and craft vendors
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Adult and children’s choirs
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Local bands
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DJs playing your favorite Christmas theme music
Dramatic Cayman National Parade Of Lights
A holiday extravaganza, the yearly National Parade of Lights embodies the charm and splendor of this festive season. One of Cayman’s most festive holiday events, it’s held at Camana Bay. The parade features boats of all shapes and sizes adorned with spectacular twinkling lights setting sail around the harbor.
The vessels vie for the award of Most Magical Boat – although their festive decorations all seem to fit that description! Spectators can enjoy food vendors and live music during the spectacle and a dazzling fireworks display that embodies the Christmas spirit.
Best Places To See Christmas Lights
Several homes on the Cayman Islands have an off-the-charts wow factor when it comes to Christmas lights. You’ll need your sunglasses to look at the thousands of kaleidoscopic lights and extravagant scenery. Although some houses can only be viewed from the street, visitors can freely walk around these two renowned properties:
Crighton Family Home, Shamrock Road
The Crighton family decks out their grounds in a jaw-dropping array of lights, animated displays and exceptionally detailed miniatures. They’re renowned for creating beautiful Christmas scenes.
What started as one small manger scene 40 years ago has exploded into a 2.5-million-bulb display drawing visitors from around the world. The family also uses the spectacle as an opportunity to help raise money for Cayman charities.
Fun Fact: The Crighton’s displays pull about 1,400 amperes (units of electricity). In comparison, a toaster uses 12.5 amperes and a car headlight uses five.
Bodden Sisters Home, South Church Street
The Bodden Sisters home is famous for its magnificent Christmas light displays. Each year, twin sisters Maxine and Maureen, and sister Pansy, transform their home into a fairyland of thousands of blazing, multicolored lights and flamboyant decorations.
In addition to opening their gates to admirers, they also use the display to raise money for local charities.
See Amazing 360 Degree Christmas Lights
Many Cayman roundabouts boast kaleidoscopic decorations and displays. These circular spectacles are sponsored by a number of Grand Cayman businesses including:
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Cayman Utilities Company
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Island Heritage
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Tomlinson
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Cayman National Bank
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Get into this festive season with a traditional carol concert. Hosted yearly by the beautiful Elmslie Church, the renowned Cayman National Choir & Orchestra (CNCO) plays all your Christmas favorites including:
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O Little Town of Bethlehem
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While Shepherds Watched
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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The First Noel
Comprised of 30 singers and a 36-piece orchestra – all volunteers – CNCO has also performed musicals including Caribbean Blue, Calypso and Beatles Medley.
Tickets aren’t required, but plan to arrive early since pews quickly fill up.
Ready, Set, Shop!
Christmas shopping is also a huge holiday season tradition in the Cayman Islands! Some of the best places to shop till you drop include:
George Town
The Caymans’ capital is filled with stores offering duty-free merchandise including high-end jewelry, luxury cosmetics, fine perfume and designer clothing. Duty-free items are often discounted as much as 30 percent.
If you’re in a last-minute Christmas shopping whirl, island markets are ideal for grabbing decorations, sweets, stocking stuffers and ingredients for a bountiful Christmas spread.
Cayman Craft Market
If you love handmade goods, spend Christmas at the festive Cayman Craft Market in George Town. You’ll find local artisans creating goods including jewelry, candles, wood carvings, paintings and pottery.
Many items incorporate native materials including conch, Caymanite and thatch. The market also offers foods such as locally made jams and jellies.
Fun Fact: Several of the market’s artisans have some of the oldest-known thatching skills in Cayman.
A Reason For The Season
Although there are many festive events happening, you may want to go to church on Christmas eve to come together with family and friends, to take a break from the Christmas party spirit or to reflect upon the real reason for the holiday (no, not presents).
Houses of worship on Grand Cayman include:
St. Ignatius Catholic Church
George Town’s St. Ignatius Catholic Church hosts a wonderful, candlelight service in their outdoor courtyard.
Children from the church also sing carols along with St. Ignatius’ talented band. The parishioners are known for being friendly and accepting, and the service is cheerful and upbeat.
First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church holds a yearly Christmas event called the Festival of Christmas Praise. This magnificent night of worship features the church’s soloists and choir joyously ushering in Christmas.
Sunrise Community Church
In you prefer being immersed in nature while you worship, join the Sunrise Community Church for their free Carols by the Sea service. Held on the Beach Deck of the Kimpton Seafire Resort, the service includes Christmas hymns and gospel readings of the Christmas story, accompanied by the multicolored hues of the setting sun. The service starts at 6 p.m. and ends around 7:30 p.m.
Restaurants That Serve Christmas Meals
The Brasserie
From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the Brasserie serves an outstand holiday menu. Treat yourself to their mouthwatering roasted butternut squash soup, yellowfin tuna tartar or beef wellington. Be sure to leave room for Caribbean Christmas Cake, a traditional island confection.
David’s At Morritt’s Resort
One of the best parts of Christmas – c’mon, admit it – is the food. If figgy pudding doesn’t quite satisfy you, dig into Christmas Day brunch at Morritt’s Resort. Their traditional fare includes delicious herb-roasted turkey, brown-sugar-glazed ham and Angus beef top sirloin.
Want a tropical twist for your Christmas Day meal? Then order the seafood alfredo, Dijon-crusted baked salmon or seafood platter with shucked oysters. Santa even shows up astride an ATV, bringing joy and a festive holiday spirit.
The Wharf Restaurant & Bar
At this charming waterfront restaurant, enjoy Christmas dinner while being caressed by the warm, Caribbean breezes and bathed in the multihued sunset. Helmed by celebrated executive chef, Christian Reiter, he recommends the restaurant’s signature dish, the exceptional basil and pistachio nut-crusted sea bass, which has endured for decades.
Enjoy your Christmas in the Cayman with other non-traditional dishes, including the outstanding Caribbean lobster salad, cracked conch and corn-fed chicken breast.
The Cayman Turtle Center
Turtles and Christmas Day breakfast may sound like strange companions, but they’re both part of a holiday meal with Santa at the Cayman Turtle Center’s Schooner’s Bar and Grill. Enjoy a delicious breakfast on a deck overlooking a lagoon filled with green sea turtles that glide past your table.
The family-friendly meal features music, games, treats and some quality time with the big guy, himself.
Join Our Christmas Celebration – Cayman-Style
Although we don’t have a sled or reindeer, Captain Marvin’s Watersports can whisk you away on a memorable, magical Grand Cayman Christmas. If visions of stingrays have danced in your head, get ready for those visions to become reality.
Founders of the Cayman Islands Stingray Experience, we’ll help you swim one-on-one with these friendly creatures – and maybe even kiss one for good luck! Contact us now for this once-in-a-lifetime thrill!
