Once again, The Atomic Grog documented an entire 12 months of events in 2019, following the top Tiki and rum events, plus mid-century modern, surf and rockabilly music, Disney and other happenings of interest to the Tiki community. Check below for official artwork and links to the official sites along with our own unique coverage. Under many events, you’ll also find images and videos from social media plus links to news sites.
NEW EVENTS: UPDATED 2020 CALENDAR
Social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
THE TIKI TIMES: 2019 EVENTS RECAP
Jan. 12 – The Original Tiki Market Place 7th Anniversary in Garden Grove, Calif.
* Atomic Grog event preview
Jan. 17 – Tiki Bingo at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.
* Atomic Grog event preview
Jan. 19 – The Mai-Kai Takeover in Fort Lauderdale.
Special event: ‘Demerara Rum – The Mai-Kai’s Secret Weapon’
The Atomic Grog was pleased to present a special happy-hour talk during The Mai-Kai Takeover event on Jan. 19, presented by the Magical Tiki Meet-Up and Retro Rekindled. Click here to check out our full event recap, including photos and highlights of our Demerara rum discussion.
Jan. 25 – Book signing and spirited discussion with Jeff “Beachbum” Berry at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif.
Jan 26 – Winter Surf Fest in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Feb. 8-9 – Miami Rum Congress in Miami Beach.
PHOTOS: VIPs, connoisseurs of fine spirits flock to first Miami Rum Congress
NEW: The inaugural Miami Rum Congress was an unqualified success, a star-studded gathering of rum industry experts that sold out the cozy and picturesque Shane Center in Miami Beach. >>> Photo gallery and event recap
* Atomic Grog preview and social recap
Feb. 15-17 – Inuhele: Atlanta’s Tiki Weekend.
Inuhele celebrates Atlanta’s meteoric rise as Tiki destination 
Now, in just its second year, the Tiki weekender known as Inuhele has greatly expanded to include three days of bar-hopping, panels, vendors, bands, demos and more geared to the area’s burgeoning scene.
* Full preview and live coverage
* Previous: Iron TikiTender goes on tour
Feb. 14-24 – Modernism Week in Palm Springs, Calif.
Modernism Week saw the official release of Shag‘s latest large print, Blind Curve.
Feb. 22 – Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach.
Atomic Grog coverage: Surprise winner, new spirit of aloha in South Beach
Find out how an unassuming chef beat out Miami’s top mixologists in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s tropical bartending competition. >>> Check out our review of the event and all the cocktails, plus exclusive photos and history of the event.
Photos, bonus recipe: Blue Bayou, served by Brian Miller at the 2019 SoBeWFF
Feb. 23-24 – Polynesian Cultural Festival in Oakland Park, Fla.
March 2-3 – 100 days to The Hukilau Party featuring The Surfrajettes (Saturday) and Retro Rekindled community gathering (Sunday) in The Molokai lounge at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.
100 Days to The Hukilau: Weekend events at The Mai-Kai feature The Surfrajettes, preview party
The 18th annual Tiki weekender known as The Hukilau will not invade Fort Lauderdale until June, but local Tikiphiles got an early taste of the rum-fueled festivities March 2-3 when two special events kicked off the 2019 countdown at The Mai-Kai.
* Atomic Grog preview of both events
March 2 – Exotica Moderne #3 release party hosted by House of Tabu at The Devil’s Reef in Tacoma, Wash.
Atomic Grog coverage: New cocktail books, magazine prove Tiki underground is alive and thriving
March 2 – Taste of Rum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
March 3 – Adventureland Day at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.
True Life Adventure-Explorers Abound at 2nd Annual Adventureland Day at Disneyland Parkhttps://t.co/PKZtJoJ0E2 pic.twitter.com/IYZ7ebmBgT
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) March 5, 2019
March 9-10 – Arizona Aloha Festival at Tempe Beach Park.
March 9-10 – Jamaica Rum Festival in Kingston.
March 10 – Adventureland Day at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Orlando.
March 10 – Book release party for The Home Bar Guide to Tropical Cocktails: A Spirited Journey Through Suburbia’s Hidden Tiki Temples at Tonga Hut in Los Angeles.
Atomic Grog coverage: New cocktail books, magazine prove Tiki underground is alive and thriving
March 18 – Book release party for Tiki Lindy’s Field Guide to Pupus, Tidbits & Exotic Provisions at The Jungle Bird in Sacramento, Calif.
Atomic Grog preview: New cocktail books, magazine prove Tiki underground is alive and thriving 
March 24 – Spring art show and parking lot sale at at the Tonga Hut in Los Angeles.
March 31 – Forbidden Island’s 13th Anniversary Celebration in Alameda, Calif.
April 5-6 – Magical Tiki Meet-Up at Walt Disney World, Orlando.
April 7 – Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails book signing with Shannon Mustipher and panel discussion featuring Suzanne Long, Jeanie Grant, Michelle Perez and Humuhumu at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif. Hosted by Ladies Who Tiki.
* Event recap from Ladies Who Tiki
* Event preview from The Atomic Grog
April 12-14 – Arizona Tiki Oasis in Scottsdale.
Event spotlight: Arizona Tiki Oasis brings Polynesian Pop party to the desert
Arizona Tiki Oasis brings all the hallmarks of the original event to a mid-century desert setting, from a vintage hotel to some of the biggest names in the Tiki revival.
* Atomic Grog preview and social recap
April 12-14 – Chicago Area Tiki Tour
April 13-14 – Rhum Fest Paris.
April 18-21 – Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend.
April 26 – Golden OptimisTiki at Bali Hai in San Diego.
April 27 – Chicago Rum Festival.
April 28 – TikiLand Day at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.
May 16-19 – Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs, Calif.
May 17-18 – Miami Rum Renaissance Festival in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami Rum Renaissance Festival returns to its roots after 10 years 
After taking a detour to Fort Lauderdale in 2018, the Rum Renaissance Festival is back in Miami-Dade County for its 11th annual “celebration of cane spirits in the new world” at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club on May 17-18.
* See the event preview
We had lots of fun with rum at @MiamiRumFest on Saturday. #rum #rumrenaissance #rumfest #rumfestival @RobertBurr @rockdoggydog @PlantationRums @RumJava @TanduayUSA pic.twitter.com/1OcBCEUVtv— theatomicgrog (@theatomicgrog) May 21, 2019
May 18 – Czech RumFest in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
May 18-19 – Heritage of Aloha Festival in Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
May 23-26 – Nashville Boogie vintage weekender and car show.
* Event recap
May 24-25 – Surf O Rama Festival in Valencia, Spain.
May 25 – Club Rum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
June 5-9 – The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale.
Atomic Grog coverage
Photos: 10 highlights from The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale NEW
Take a look back at the five days of festivities at Pier Sixty-Six and The Mai-Kai with dozens of photos and many memorable moments, plus two bonus cocktail recipes.
The Hukilau 2019 rewind: Photos and video from social media
>>>> SOCIAL POSTS FROM THE ATOMIC GROG AND VILLAGERS
The Hukilau 2019: Women of Tiki take over the tower
Thursday, June 6, was tropical cocktail heaven during the opening festivities of The Hukilau at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. The signature Tiki Tower Takeover cocktail party included eight of the world’s top female Tiki bartenders. Between sampling all the delicious drinks, hanging out with friends and enjoying the gorgeous views from the 17th-floor Pier Top Lounge, we managed to snap a few photos. Coming soon, a blog recap featuring more photos plus cocktail reviews and ratings.
>>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY
June 7-8 – Rum Love Festival in Wroclaw, Poland.
June 8 – Manchester Rum Festival in the UK.
June 9-16 – Dallas Tiki Week.
* Adventures in Tiki: Dallas Tiki Week Makes a Splash
June 10 – Wild O’ Fest in Mexico.
June 10-17 – New York Rum Week in New York City.
June 15 – New York Rum Festival in New York City.
* 2019 NY Rum Fest recap
June 15 – The Original Tiki Market Place Summer Kickoff in Garden Grove, Calif.
* Atomic Grog past coverage
June 20-23 – Surfer Joe Summer Festival in Livorno, Italy.
* Storm Surge of Reverb recaps: Thursday | Friday | Saturday
June 27-30 – Ohana: Luau At The Lake at The Tiki Resort, Lake George, N.Y.
June 29 – Escape To Tiki Island in Santa Ana, Calif.
July 5-7 – Tiki Kon in Portland, Ore.
July 13 – Escape TikiFest at Escape Craft Brewery in Redlands, Calif.
July 13 – Tiki Night 2019 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.
July 16-21 – Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, La.
Press reports
* World’s Best Bar 2019: New York’s Dante wins top spot at 13th Spirited Awards
* And so it be gins: Tales of the Cocktails 2019 day one in photos
* Shake’s sphere: Tales of the Cocktail 2019, day two in photos
* Stir crazy: Days three & four of Tales of the Cocktail 2019 in photos
Aug. 3 – Surf Guitar 101 Convention in Torrance, Calif.
* The Insect Surfers are still buzzing (LA Weekly)
Aug. 3 – Tiki Take-Over Day for the MS Society in Hollywood, Calif.
Aug. 4 – International Surf Classic IV in San Jose, Calif.
Aug. 7-11 – Tiki Oasis in San Diego, Calif.
Press coverage
* L.A. is still intoxicated by Tiki culture and at Tiki Oasis everyone comes out to play (LA Weekly)
* Tipsy and tropical: The 12 local drinks you must try to do Tiki right (LA Weekly)
* Highlights from the Tiki Oasis bartender battle prelims (San Diego Magazine)
Aug. 10 – The Hula Hop in Columbus, Ohio.
Aug. 16 – National Rum Day Fest in Miami Beach.
Aug. 16-18 – Hi-Tide Summer Holiday: Asbury Park in New Jersey.
Press coverage
* Meet the Jersey Shore couple saving surf rock and tiki culture with cocktails and guitars (Asbury Park Press)
* In Asbury Park, a special celebration of surf music (New Jersey Monthly)
Aug. 17 – Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival in Hawaii.
* Mai Tai Festival crowns world champion
* This Pittsburgh native crafted the world’s Best Mai Tai
* Former Hawaii resident creates the ‘World’s Best Mai Tai’ for second time
Aug. 18 – Tiki Throw Down at the New York Cocktail Expo in Queens.
Aug. 24 – Atlanta Rum and Tiki Fest at Tiki Tango.
* You’ll be whisked away to the Pacific at Atlanta’s Rum and Tiki Fest
Aug. 31 – 75th Mai Tai Celebration at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif.
* Anatomy of a classic: The Mai Tai turns 75 (The Daily Beast)
Aug. 31-Sept. 1 – German Rum Festival in Berlin.
Sept. 7 – California Rum Festival in San Francisco.
* Recap, photos from Suit & Sand
Sept. 8-9 – Exotica VII at The Raines Law Room at the William Hotel in New York City.
Sept. 11 – The Inferno Room First Anniversary Luau in Indianapolis.
Sept. 14 – Makahiki: A Night of Tiki in Indianapolis, Ind.
Sept. 20-21 – Southern Surf StompFest in Atlanta.
* Southern Surf StompFest! music festival returning to Avondale Estates
Sept. 21 – Pacific Islander Festival in San Diego.
Sept 24-29 – Texas Tiki Week in Austin.
Sept. 25-28 – International Rum Conference at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami.
Oct. 4-5 – Tiki Fever at the Bahi Hut and Golden Host Hotel in Sarasota, Fla.
Oct. 5-6 – 14th annual Parking Lot Sale at Forbidden Island in Alameda, Calif.
Oct. 17-20 – Circa Caliente (aka Tiki Caliente 11.5 “Tiki Takeover”) in Palm Springs.
Oct. 17-20 – Modernism Week Fall Preview in Palm Springs, Calif.
Oct. 18 – The Hukilau London at Trader Vic’s.
Oct. 19 – The Original Tiki Market Place OcTIKIfest Scoot In in Garden Grove, Calif.
Oct. 19-20 – The UK RumFest in London.
Oct. 20 – Tiki Day at Disneyland.
Oct. 24 – Solid Gold 65th Anniversary Party at Bali Hai in San Diego.
Oct. 24-27 – Barbados Food and Rum Festival.
Oct. 25 – Hulaween 2019: Luau of the Living Dead at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.
NEW: The living dead came to party at The Mai-Kai’s Hulaween 2019 luau 
After 10 years, we know what to expect from The Mai-Kai’s infamous Hulaween party: A night of kooky costumes, rockin’ tunes and many cocktails consumed in the legendary Polynesian restaurant’s Molokai bar. The 2019 bash, held Oct. 25, lived up to those standards.
NEW: Full recap and photo gallery
Oct. 28 – Monsters and Mai Tais VII Halloween art show and parking lot sale at the Tonga Hut in Los Angeles.
Nov. 6-9 – St. Barth Rum Festival and Caribbean Rum Awards in St. Barth.
* Caribbean Journal press report
Nov. 9 – Alohana: A Palm Springs Celebration Of Tiki Culture at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs.
Nov. 10 – Retro Rekindled November Gathering: Euro Tiki at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Featuring Daniele Dalla Pola from Esotico Miami.
Nov. 13-24 – Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale.
Nov. 22-26 – KonTiki Lima Tiki Fest in Peru.
Dec. 7 – Hidden Harbor’s Mele Kalikimaka Hawaiian Holiday Party in Pittsburgh.
Dec. 8 – The Original Tiki Market Place Happy Hula Days Show in Garden Grove, Calif.
Dec. 8 – Ten Years of Smuggling: 10th Anniversary Party at Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco.
Dec. 15 – Retro Rekindled December Gathering: Skinny Jimmy Stingray’s musical journey from punk rocker to surf guitarist at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Featuring Skinny Jimmy and his band plus Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog.
Dec. 15 – Tiki Wonderland at Tonga Hut in Los Angeles.
Dec. 28 – The Mai-Kai 63nd anniversary Customer “Mahalo” Appreciation Party in Fort Lauderdale. Featuring History of the Mystery Drink multimedia presentation by Tim “Swanky” Glazner in the showroom, plus live music with Slip and the Spinouts in The Molokai lounge.
Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale featuring a DJ party in The Molokai lounge and special performances of the Polynesian Islander Revue in the showroom.
Dec. 31 – Tiki New Year’s Eve at Forbidden Island in Alameda, Calif.
UPDATES: 2020 EVENTS CALENDAR
Social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Nicely done! Seeing all of the great events makes me want to attend some in 2020.