The Year in Tiki 2021: Take a look back at the year’s top live and virtual events

Although at times 2021 seemed like 2020 all over again, we made some great strides toward a return to normalcy amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Many live events returned, albeit in abbreviated or scaled-down formats. Regular virtual and online events continued, giving many a safe way to interact. The Tiki Times, The Atomic Grog’s ongoing event guide, documented many of these happenings over the past year. Check below for artwork and links to official sites, plus images and videos from social media. Stay safe and remember to follow all COVID guidance as we face further challenges in 2022.
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THE TIKI TIMES: 2021 EVENTS RECAP

ONGOING VIRTUAL EVENTS

Every Tuesday – Tiki Trail Live on Zoom.

Take a trip down the Tiki Trail for a lethal new Zombie recipe
It was a honor mixing up an original cocktail on the longest-running weekly online gathering of Tiki culture enthusiasts.

Fridays – Spike’s Breezeway Cocktail Hour hosted by Matt “Spike” Marble of The Hula Girls. Pre-parties on Instagram Live, episodes on YouTube.

2021 LIVE EVENTS

Jan. 10 – Filipino Bartenders’ Influence on Tropical Drinks, hosted by Adrian Eustaquio of Inside the Desert Oasis Room for Tiki Oasis TV

Jan. 17 – Tiki Music & Culture Vol. 2

Jan. 22 – Tiki Fever Mug Release Party at Bahi Hut in Sarasota.

Feb. 28 – Cruise-In at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.

March 6-7 – Aloha Polynesian Culture & Seafood Festival in Oakland Park, Fla.

March 13 – Arizona Aloha Festival virtual performances.

March 13 – The Original Tiki Market Place 9th Anniversary in Garden Grove, Calif.

March 20 – Tiki Underground fourth anniversary celebration in Akron, Ohio.

March 22-27 – Jamaica Rum Festival in Kingston.
Press coverage: Virtual mix and mingling at the Jamaica Rum Festival

March 28 – Cruise-In at The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale.

 

April 8-18 – Modernism Week in Palm Springs, Calif.

April 17 – The Mai-Kai Tiki Marketplace in Fort Lauderdale.

The Mai-Kai hosts first Tiki Marketplace featuring vendors, entertainers, cocktails, rum tasting and more
The historic restaurant may be closed for repairs, but a new event takes advantage of the large parking lot for a safe and fun-filled day featuring the generous spirit of ‘ohana.

April 17 – Manchester Rum Festival in the UK.

April 17 – The Original Tiki Market Place Spring Fling in Garden Grove, Calif.

April 18 – Alohana Mod Palm Springs

April 22-25 – Arizona Tiki Oasis in Scottsdale.

Arizona Tiki Oasis ushers in the return of live weekend conventions
The modern Tiki weekender is officially back. Recap the island lifestyle party in the middle of the desert.
>>> See the full story, social media coverage

May 22 – The Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami Beach.
* Press coverage: FIU Students’ Mixed Drink ‘The Sunblazer’ Wins Award At South Beach Wine & Food Festival Competition

June 26 – The Original Tiki Market Place Summer Kickoff in Garden Grove, Calif.

June 27 – 30th annual Ki Ho`Alu (Slack Key) Guitar Festival in Maui.

July 2-3 – Surf O Rama Festival in Valencia, Spain.

July 18 – The Mai-Kai Tiki Marketplace in Fort Lauderdale.

Tiki Marketplace offers a taste of The Mai-Kai
The July 18 event featured vintage art and collectibles, food trucks, plus authentic Mai-Kai cocktails and entertainment.
>>> CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS AND VIDEO

July 23-24 – Hula Girls & Monkey Guys at Bahi Hut in Sarasota.

July 28-Aug. 1 – Tiki Oasis at the Town & Country resort in San Diego, Calif.
* Event preview from The LA Beat | Past coverage

July 29-31 – Rum Show featuring masterclasses, exclusive tastings and immersive experiences.

July 31 – Big Kahuna Bash at Grumpy’s Bar & Grill in Roseville, Minn.

Aug. 7 – “Ray’s Mistake II” Fine Art Print Release & Cocktail Reception at the Shag Store in Palm Springs, Calif.

Aug. 8 – Rum-Tiki Social in Long Beach, Calif.

Aug. 16-21 – Mobile Tiki Week in Alabama.

Aug. 21 – New York Rum Festival and Congress in New York City.

Aug. 21 – TU Tiki Flea 9 at Tiki Underground in Hudson, Ohio.

Aug. 28-29 – German Rum Festival in Berlin.

Aug. 29 – Mai Tai Day Celebration at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif.

Sept. 9-12 – Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekend.

Sept. 11 – California Rum Festival in San Francisco.

Sept. 11 – Czech RumFest in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Sept. 11 – Makahiki: A Night of Tiki at The Inferno Room in Indianapolis, Ind.

Sept. 18 – Caribbean Rum & Food Festival in Boston, Mass.

Sept. 16-19 – The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale.
* TheHukilau.com | Facebook: Page and Group | Instagram

The Hukilau 2021: Daily recap, photos and video
The Hukilau returns to the picturesque Fort Lauderdale area oceanfront for an 18th time Sept. 16-19 for four days of Polynesian Pop paradise in America’s vacationland.

A new Zombie becomes final challenge for The Hukilau villagers
Upon completion of The Hukilau, villagers had one Final Destination: the “Hereafter Party at Death or Gory in Hellray Beach.” To bring the theme full circle, The Atomic Grog presents a Zombie to end all Zombies.
>>> Event overview, photos, more
NEW RECIPE: The Final (Destination) Zombie

Sept. 16-19 – Ohana: Luau At The Lake at The Tiki Resort, Lake George, N.Y.
* Past coverage

Sept. 20-23 – Tales of the Cocktail and Spirted Awards virtual events.

Sept. 23-26 – The New England Shake-Up in Framingham, Mass.

Sept. 25 – Atlanta Tiki Homebar Tour

Sept. 25 – Tiki Night at The Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles

Sept. 30-Oct. 3 – Tiki Fever at the Bahi Hut and Golden Host Resort in Sarasota, Fla.

Oct. 3-4 – Rhum Fest Paris.

Oct. 14-17 – Modernism Week Fall Preview in Palm Springs, Calif.

Oct. 14-17 – Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs, Calif.

Oct. 16 – The Original Tiki Market Place Octikifest in Garden Grove, Calif.

Oct. 15-17 – The UK RumFest in London.

Oct 23 – Max’s South Seas Hideaway Two Year Anniversary Party in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Oct 23 – Tarantula Tiki Lounge’s 1 Year Anniversary Party in Fort Worth, Texas.

Oct. 30 – Honuween at The Honu in Dunedin, Fla.

Oct. 30 – Dead Man’s Party with Jimmy Psycho at Tiki Underground in Hudson, Ohio.

Nov. 1-7 – The Barbados Rum Experience

Nov. 2-7 – St Barth Rum Festival and Caribbean Rum Awards

Nov. 13 – Rockabillaque Charleston in South Carolina.

Nov. 12-14 – DesignerCon in Anaheim, Calif.

Nov. 14 – Alohana: A Palm Springs Celebration of Tiki Culture

Nov. 14 – Atomic Tiki Bazaar at Max’s South Seas Hideaway in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Nov. 14 – Miami Rum Renaissance Festival in Coral Gables.

Photos, recap: Miami festival reunites rum family for one-day tasting event
Quick takes and highlights from the 2021 Rum Renaissance Tasting Event, including photos and our favorite sips of the day.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE RECAP AND PHOTO GALLERY
PAST COVERAGE: 2021 preview | 2019 recap, photos | Rum fest history, memories

Nov. 29 – Alohana Holiday in Palm Springs.

Dec. 2 – Sven Kirsten’s “The Modernist” Mug & Book Launch at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, Calif.

Dec. 5 – Lowbrow Aloha art show and sale at Hala Kahiki in Chicago.

Dec. 5 – Merry Tiki at Roxanne’s in Long Beach, Calif.

Dec. 11 – Ebu-Tiki at Ebullition Brew Works in Vista, Calif.

Dec. 11 – Original Tiki Market Place Mele KaTikiMaka Happy HulaDays Event & Toy Drive in Garden Grove, Calif.

Dec. 18 – Bob Baker Holiday Bazaar in Los Angeles.

Dec. 19 – Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular in West Palm Beach.

UPDATES: The Tiki Times: Exclusive events guide
Check the calendar for the latest upcoming live and virtual events.

UPDATES: Support Tiki bars: Visit their online stores, buy the latest merchandise
Check out our updated guide for links to dozens of establishments with online stores, including news on exclusive new releases.