How to Host a Caribbean Themed Party

For Everyone Who Loves the Caribbean

The Caribbean Sea kisses a geographically diverse array of islands and countries, from the northern coast of South America to Mexico’s southeastern Yucatan Peninsula. It is a popular tourist destination as well, and no wonder: it’s beautiful, colourful and fun! Though many different people groups and nations make up the Caribbean, it shares some cultural cohesion that we can celebrate with a Caribbean themed party. If you can’t make it there yourself, this is the next best way to embrace it. So let’s delve into some fun ways to throw a Caribbean themed party!

A young woman smiles in conversation while holding a drink served out of a coconut at a Caribbean themed party — Photos by Cottonbro Studio and Deeana Arts

Make your Caribbean themed party bright and colourful like this ally between a bright yellow painted building and a bright lime painted building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with outdoor tables, chairs and umbrellas set up as well as green-bulb party lights strung up above, and the azure sea seen at a distance in the background — Photos by Cottonbro Studio and Deeana Arts

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How We Throw a Caribbean Themed Party

1. Create a Caribbean Scene

The best way to host a Caribbean themed party is to have it outside! If you have a yard or any outdoor space you can commandeer for a spell, set up the party there. This is obviously ideal in the summertime when temperatures are at their warmest and most similar to a Caribbean summer. For more details on specific items you’ll need for an outdoor party (i.e. seating, shade, etc.), check out the patio party post. If you are pining for a Caribbean party in the winter, though, there’s no reason you can’t host when it’s cold outside! You just have it indoors.

A blue and white painted wooden walkway leads a path through palm trees to the beach at Cayo Coco, Cuba — Photo by Juan Rojas

Caribbean people love colour. Buildings are colourful, clothing is colourful, and the landscape is likewise colourful. So decorate with bright, cheery colours – coral, aqua, lime, pink. Serve food on colourful paper plates. When budget’s a concern, you can find inexpensive party supplies if you know where to look. Here are some fun options to get you started:

2. Prepare Caribbean Food and Beverages

Top down photo of grilled whole fishes and fried rice as well as a tomato and avocado platter and other sides, food of the Dominican Republic and perfect fare for a Caribbean themed party — Photo by Raul Baz

Get ready to cook up some mouthwatering treats! Give your guests a taste of the Caribbean with your menu. Whether you provide all refreshments or whether you request that guests bring a dish to share, food is one of the most fun ways to engage everyone in a theme.

For finger foods, provide a plentiful platter of sliced fresh fruit like pineapple, mango, papaya, guava, and starfruit. For protein, go heavy on the seafood – a regional staple. Fry plantains in coconut oil and bake seasoned rice. You have so many delicious options! Here are recipes for just a few:

Mangú (plantain) breakfast bites and more Dominican recipes
Habichuelas guisadas (Puerto Rican Stewed Beans)
Caribbean salmon quinoa bowls
Caribbean jerk grouper
Caribbean baked fish
Caribbean-style sofrito
Caribbean coconut bake
Caribbean banana fritters
Caribbean rum punch
Caribbean nights cocktail
…and anything with rum (or just rum)!

Top down photo of rum served in a coconut cup with a lemon rind floating on top. Rum is the quintessential drink to serve at a Caribbean themed party. — Photo by Kelly

3. Set the Ambience with Caribbean Music

You can’t have a Caribbean themed party without music. You just can’t. So make sure you have decent speakers and a hoppin’ playlist! Any of these genres will welcome your guests to the Caribbean (in spirit):

4. Add Evocative Scents

A wood cabin sits off the shore, surrounded by coconut trees and a light blue sky and even more vivid turquoise ocean, at La Altagracia, República Dominicana — Photo by Leonardo Rossatti

We covered the sights, the flavors, and the sounds of the Caribbean. Now, consider the scents! To truly immerse your guests in a Caribbean vibe, think of ways to engage the evocative sense of smell with a luxurious scented candle:

5. Plan Games (or Not)

The Caribbean Sea meanders up the beach toward palm trees against a bright and clear blue sky in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

While planned activities are a fun way to liven up any party, the real spirit of a Caribbean themed party is ‘limin’ (or ‘liming’). Limin’ is hanging out with friends without any specific agenda. It may involve chatting, eating, or drinking, but as a general rule it involves doing very little, somewhere pleasant (in this case, at your party). It’s a very healthy way to curb stress, something those of us from other cultures would do well to learn from. So unless you have specific games in mind that everyone will love, embrace simply limin’! All you need for a great Caribbean themed party is good music, good food and drinks, and good friends. That’s it. The only thing that can truly top that is if you or another guest happens to be a steel drum player (in which case, this is their opportunity to shine!).

6. Establish Guest Participation

A wooden house sits just off the turquoise ocean, nestled in the trees on a Cuban beach — Photo by Alex Meier

Guest participation is optional and depends on how you’d like your guests to participate or contribute to your party. You could request that guests bring a Caribbean-inspired dish to share. Or perhaps make it BYOR (bring your own rum) – and you provide the juices and other mixers. If you make it a Caribbean potluck, just remember that as the host, you need to provide at least one large dish that is both tasty and filling. And always communicate participation requests in the initial invitations.

Things to Get for a Caribbean Themed Party

The Caribbean Sea rushes up the beach toward a wall of palm trees against a sunny blue sky in Tortuguero, Costa Rica

These are the things you need for this party:

Caribbean themed party decorations
Caribbean food and drinks
Caribbean music playlist and speakers
Caribbean-inspired scented candle

Preparation Checklist for a Caribbean Themed Party

Close-up photo of carved wood art in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, of a young woman with chin on hands, gazing at onlooker, surrounded by flowers — Carved wood art in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (artist unknown)

1. First, confirm that people can come on any chosen date:

Choose party date/time, and preferably alternative date(s) as well
Choose guest list and establish minimum number of guests you’d like (to make it worth your effort)
Six weeks out, confirm guests’ interest in the party and availability on chosen party date(s)
If your preferred minimum number of guests confirm interest and availability, have them secure calendar date for your awesome Caribbean themed party!

2. Then, proceed with the fun planning:

Close-up photo of carved wood art in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, of a young man with head to side on shoulder and arms out, surrounded by fish — Carved wood art in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (artist unknown)

Schedule time on your calendar for each step of party prep as listed below (securing and/or making food/drinks, etc.)
Create invitations with all the details and send them out 4 weeks before the party
Order any party supplies and decorations 3 weeks out (so they arrive in time to prepare and set up)
Shop for any party supplies/decorations you don’t order online, as well as non-perishable food/drinks
In your planned time slots, acquire perishable food/drinks early enough in advance to prepare in time
In your planned time slots, set up decorations
In your planned time slots, prepare food/drinks (depending on how long things keep)

3. Day of Party (in your amply planned time slot):

Close-up photo of wall mosaic in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, of a young woman with flowing golden orange hair against a teal background — Tile art in Tortuguero, Costa Rica (artist unknown)

Prepare any foods/drinks that are too fresh to do any earlier
Set up any quick/easy last-minute supplies and decorations (if not up already)
Prepare ambience (music, candles)
Get dressed in a colourful Caribbean themed party outfit
Once everything’s ready, take some time for any preferred self-care to get in a good head space if you aren’t already. You want to be a relaxed, energized, and happy host – both for yourself and for your guests!

The Spirit of a Caribbean Themed Party

A man fishes in the surf on the beach in San Andrés — Photo by Jorge Alberto Ferro

Hopefully you’ve got some ideas for throwing your own fun Caribbean themed party! Remember, at the end of the day, it’s all about limin’. If you’re stressed come party day, you’re doing it wrong (and you’ve probably already done plenty of things ‘right’). You don’t need to worry if things don’t go exactly as planned – roll with it and do your best. It’s just as important for you to enjoy your party as it is that your guests enjoy it. So put plenty of careful thought and effort into planning and preparing your party, and then, come what may, embrace limin’ with your friends during the party!