The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Heritage (MYSH) with approval from the Cabinet is pleased to announce the upcoming Emancipation celebrations. These celebrations will begin on Friday, 3^rd May and run to Sunday, 12^th May 2024. The festivities promise to be a vibrant and celebratory tribute to our heritage and a testament to the resilience of our people.

The Calendar of events are as follows:

·         Friday, 3rd May | 345 Day

MYSH invites the public to show their Cayman pride by wearing #CaymanianProud T-shirts, which will become available along with Emancipation Day merchandise on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Alternatively, persons are encouraged to proudly wear the vibrant colors of the Cayman Islands: blue, white and red in recognition of the day.  

·         Saturday, 4th May      | Emancipation Opening Gala at Pedro St. James (invitation only) at 6:30pm.

·         Sunday, 5th May         | Church Service at Elmslie Memorial at 4pm. 

·         Monday, 6th May       | Emancipation celebration on Seafarer’s Way from 1 – 8pm. 

·         Tuesday, 7th May       | Turtle Release at West Bay Beach at 9am.

·         Wednesday, 8th May | Unveiling of Commemorative plaque at the Bodden Town Slave Wall (Monument Road) at 10am.

·         Saturday, 11th May   | Emancipation celebrations at Heritage Park (Spot Bay) from 11am – 8pm. 

·         Sunday, 12th May      | Closing Church service at Aston Rutty Centre at 10am. 

Minister for Youth, Sports & Heritage, Hon. Isaac Rankine invites the public to “join us in commemorating our heritage as we celebrate Emancipation Day for the first time in 62 years! These celebrations are important to recognising and remembering our history, building national identity and giving our community an opportunity to reconnect with our heritage and honour our authentic history.”