Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival 2025: The Ultimate Island Experience

Welcome to the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival 2025

From the scent of sizzling conch fritters to the vibrant colors of Caribbean canvas paintings, the Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival 2025 promises a full-on sensory experience. Running October 22–26, 2025, this five-day event unfolds across the luxurious Baha Mar resort in Nassau and celebrates the best in Caribbean cuisine, contemporary art, and island culture.

Now in its fourth edition, the festival has grown from a boutique food event into a major regional celebration that fuses celebrity chef experiences, world-class art showcases, hands-on workshops, and live entertainment in a vibrant beachfront setting.

🗓️ Daily Breakdown: What's Happening Each Day

📍 Wednesday, October 22 – The Elegant Kickoff

• FUZE Art Fair Grand Opening (11:00 AM–5:00 PM)
  Hosted at the Baha Mar Convention Center, this vibrant opening features artwork from over 70 Caribbean artists, curated by John Cox, a leading Bahamian creative. Expect installations, live painting, gallery tours, and artist talks.
• Daniel Boulud’s Signature Truffle Dinner (6:00 PM, Café Boulud)
  A luxurious multi-course meal showcasing the season’s first white truffles, paired with fine wines. Seats are very limited and this event typically sells out weeks in advance. This is the gourmet way to begin your festival experience.

📍 Thursday, October 23 – Culture, Crafts, and Cocktails

• Straw Craft Workshop (4:00 PM, Oceanfront Lawn)
  Learn the traditional Bahamian art of straw weaving with master artisans. You’ll create your own woven keepsake to take home.
• Afternoon Tea at The Library (12:00 PM, Rosewood)
  Enjoy a refined tea service inspired by Bahamian bush teas and local ingredients. It’s elegance meets island flavor.
• Live Jazz Happy Hour (7:00 PM, Jon Batiste Jazz Club)
  A free-entry event featuring The Essence Band, signature cocktails, and small bites. It’s a casual, welcoming social event perfect for mingling.
• Evening Art Demos & Film Screenings (8:00 PM, The Current Art Gallery)
  Catch artist-led discussions or short Caribbean films as part of FUZE’s cultural programming. These events offer insight into island narratives and visual storytelling.

📍 Friday, October 24 – MasterClass Mayhem + Lenny Kravitz Live

• Kitchen MasterClasses Begin (10:00 AM–3:00 PM, The Kitchen at Baha Mar)
  Small-group culinary workshops taught by celebrity chefs. Highlights include:
  • Amanda Freitag’s Beef Wellington Intensive
  • Maneet Chauhan’s Indian Street Food Journey
  • Geoffrey Zakarian’s French Bistro Brunch (with cocktails!)
  These are interactive, apron-on, cook-along sessions — not just demos. Ask questions, get hands-on guidance, and eat what you make.
• Acrylic Pour Art Class (2:00 PM, The Current Gallery)
  Learn the mesmerizing technique of fluid acrylic painting — with conch shells as your canvas. Includes wine and good vibes.
• A Taste of Baha Mar Welcome Party (8:00 PM, Jasmine Lawn)
  This is the event of the weekend.
  • Unlimited gourmet tasting stations (from sushi to BBQ)
  • Premium open bars & mixology stands
  • Surprise performances and culinary showmanship
  • Live concert by Lenny Kravitz – expect a full rock show from the Bahamas’ own icon
  💎 Platinum pass holders receive early entry, exclusive access to the after-party, and prime concert viewing.

📍 Saturday, October 25 – Expo Extravaganza & Signature Chef Dinners

• Culinary & Arts Expo (12:00 PM–6:00 PM, Convention Center)
  • Unlimited tastings from dozens of vendors (local and international)
  • Live cooking demos with Carla Hall, Marcus Samuelsson & more
  • Wine & spirit seminars with André Mack & Noah Rothbaum
  • Interactive artist booths and pop-up galleries
  • Kids under 12 enter free with an adult
• Flamingos & Flocktails (11:00 AM, Rosewood Gardens)
  Yoga, cocktails, and yes — flamingos. Baha Mar’s resident birds join a wellness-meets-wildlife event that’s both Instagram-worthy and incredibly fun.
• Coconuts & Cocktails Beach Party (1:00 PM, Marcus Courtyard)
  Hosted by Marcus Samuelsson & Scott Conant, this daytime beach bash includes grilled island fare (jerk chicken, coconut shrimp) and tropical cocktails.
• The Chef’s Table with Dario Cecchini (1:00 PM, Carna)
  A meat-lover’s dream with the legendary Italian butcher. Multi-course lunch, butchery demos, and wine pairings.
• Signature Chef Dinners (7:00 PM–10:00 PM, Various Restaurants)
  These are VIP-only events (for pass holders). Choose from:
  • Italian Journey Dinner with Amanda Freitag & Scott Conant at Leola
  • Indo-French Fusion with Maneet Chauhan & Geoffrey Zakarian at Café Boulud
  • Omakase Night at Katsuya with Chef Rolando Ordoñez
  • Caribbean Rooftop Feast with Marcus Samuelsson & Simeon Hall Jr. at Marcus Up Top
  Each dinner includes exclusive menus, personal storytelling from the chefs, and drink pairings — an unforgettable night of culinary artistry.

📍 Sunday, October 26 – Brunch, BBQ, and Final Cheers

• The Art of Brunch (11:00 AM, Rosewood Gardens)
  Hosted by Carla Hall, Amanda Freitag & Maneet Chauhan — this brunch party is a celebration of comfort food, creativity, and community.
  • Southern-style grits, gourmet eggs, exotic spice blends
  • Live steel drum and jazz music
  • Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and more — all flowing freely
• Sip ’N Paint with June Collie (11:00 AM, Marcus Up Top)
  Guided painting session with one of the Bahamas’ most vibrant artists. Includes wine and a take-home masterpiece.
• Culinary & Arts Expo – Final Day (12:00 PM–4:00 PM)
  Grab second helpings, visit missed booths, and maybe snag that art piece you loved.
• Sushi & Sake Workshop (2:00 PM, Katsuya)
  Roll sushi, learn sake pairing tips, and enjoy a Japanese-Caribbean fusion class with Chef Rolando Ordoñez and mixologist Noah Rothbaum.
• Get in the Mix: Caribbean Cocktail Class (4:00 PM, Jazz Club)
  Mixology crash course led by Bahamian bartender Marv “Mr. Mixx.” Learn to make iconic rum cocktails and tropical elixirs.
• Sunset Beach BBQ with Chef Simeon Hall Jr. (5:00 PM, Baha Bay Lawn)
  A soulful sendoff. Traditional Bahamian BBQ with grilled seafood, local sides, and island cocktails — all by the water as the sun goes down.

🌟 Why You Shouldn't Miss This Festival

• It’s Not Just Food: It’s about connection — with local culture, with artists, with each other.
• Interactive Format: Learn by doing — from painting to plating.
• Inclusive Pricing: Come for a free happy hour, a $35 art pass, or the all-access $899 VIP treatment.
• Local and Global Vibes: Bahamian roots with global reach — it’s a celebration of community on an international scale.

🛎️ How to Attend: Ticket Breakdown

🎟️ General Tickets

• From $50–$500 per event
• MasterClasses, dinners, workshops, parties

🧡 Expo Passes

• Single Day: ~$50
• Weekend Pass: ~$85–$99
• Includes art fair, tastings, chef demos, open bar

🥂 Weekend Passes

• Gold Pass ($599):
  • Welcome Party
  • Culinary Expo (2 days)
  • Signature Dinner
• Platinum Pass ($899):
  • All Gold events
  • Early entry
  • After-party
  • Premium swag & lounge perks

🏨 Hotel + Festival Packages

• Stay at Grand Hyatt, SLS, or Rosewood
• Bundle room + passes at a discount
• Highly recommended for full immersion

🎉Come Hungry, Leave Inspired

The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival 2025 isn’t just a five-day food fest — it’s a living, breathing celebration of what makes this island nation so special. Whether you’re here for the bold flavors, the dazzling art, the music, the dancing, or just the good vibes — you’ll leave filled up in more ways than one.

With celebrity chefs, world-renowned artists, soulful music, and a setting that’s pure paradise, this is one Caribbean experience you won’t want to miss.