Forget the pandemic and all its misery. It’s time to shut the door on 2020 and fully embrace a brighter future with the very best of what’s happening in the Cayman Islands on New Year’s Eve 2021.
We love a party in the Cayman Islands. It’s one our defining characteristics, this urge to come together and celebrate anything – just getting to the end of another work week, for example, has been a major achievement in the current climate.
So, as we prepare to say goodbye and good riddance to 2020, a year of global lockdowns, bad tempers, travel restrictions and misery for everyone, but especially for those in in the travel and tourism sector, there’s a positive vibe in the air, a glimmer of hope for the future.
If you’re like me, you can hardly wait to send 2020 packing, along with all its social, political and economic upheaval. And the best way to do that is in typical Cayman Islands style, with parties big and small being planned for New Year’s Eve. Here’s a roundup of the top events Grand Cayman is planning for the arrival of 2021:
New Year’s Eve 2020 Fireworks on the Waterfront
Midnight
New Year’s Eve just isn’t right without fireworks, and Seven Mile Beach is where all the top hotels, resorts and bars light up the night sky in unison as the clock strikes midnight.
Whether you’re dining in style at one of the many fancy celebrations or just hanging out on a blanket on the beach soaking up the party atmosphere, you only have to look upwards at midnight to enjoy all the spectacular fireworks shows.
Starting at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach and heading north for its entire length, there will be multiple firework displays from The Wharf, the Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton and other properties.
The Restaurants of Camana Bay NYE Fireworks
8pm and Midnight
Directly behind Seven Mile Beach and facing east is Camana Bay where every New Year’s Eve there is a free open air party, with live DJ, dancing and fireworks at 8pm and midnight.
This family-friendly event is fun for all ages and Camana Bay will have two fireworks shows: one at 8pm for families and one at midnight for the party crowd. This free event promises fun for all ages, as well as the chance to sample the great restaurants of Camana Bay. Arrive early to ensure the best eating and viewing options.
New Year’s Eve at The Brasserie
5pm to 10pm
Welcome in the New Year with a six-course farm-to-table degustation of sustainably-caught fish, conch, oysters and lobster. Sample the ‘Coco Bluff’ coconut flan, the melt-in-your-mouth beef tenderloin, Brasserie honeycomb and a dessert trio with Valrhona chocolate bomb. Tickets are CI$90 per person. Call 945-1815 to book.
Rise 2021, New Year’s Eve at The Westin
7pm to 1am
The Westin is determined to send 2020 off in Seven Mile Beach style, offering an abundance of joy in a magnificent setting. Indulge in an extravagant feast with six live-action carving stations, an expansive raw bar, a delicious dessert display, and more – all prepared by the Westin’s award-winning culinary team. The evening features unlimited sparkling wine, lanterns, fireworks and toes in the sand dancing.
Reservations are essential. Call 321-5513 to book. Tickets are CI$150 and include dining, unlimited sparkling wine and soft drinks (CI$195 with open bar). CI$30 for children under 12. A 16% service charge will be added.
The Movement Project 2021, Marriott Beach Resort
8pm to 1am
Celebrate the close of 2020, dance all your worries away, enjoy a magnificent midnight fireworks display and toast new beginnings at Marriott’s New Year’s Eve party inspired by next year’s theme: The Movement Project 2021. The plan for the night includes assigned tables for dinner, unlimited food and cocktails, a pool party under the stars, outside Bubbles bar, live entertainment and fireworks at midnight.
Price: Dinner and Pool Party CI$140 + 16% gratuity. Admission to Pool Party only, including unlimited drinks from 11pm, CI$55 + 16% gratuity. No refunds. To book tickets, visit: http://marriotth.tl/6181HzEot
Dress Code: Elegant Poolside Chic.
The Great Beginning: A Ritz-Carlton New Year’s Eve All White Event
8pm to 1am
Prepare for the New Year with an exquisite buffet dinner complete with live entertainment and a welcome cocktail to kick-off the evening. After dinner, delight in the festivities with a glass of champagne on Seven Mile Beach and enjoy the sounds of a live DJ as the sky illuminates with the highly anticipated annual fireworks spectacle at midnight.
Price: CI$185 per adult (includes one welcome cocktail), CI$160 (ages 13-17), CI$80 (ages 9-12), CI$40 (ages 3-8). No refunds. Reservations are required. Call 815-6912 to book. White attire recommended.