Caribbean-themed outdoor party ideas

Music
"Junkanoo" is an authentic sound of the Caribbean if you can find it. Alternatively, steel drums, calypso or reggae music will also do. Often music stores have Caribbean compilation CDs as well, or check out what Caribbean themes iTunes has online.

Menu
Caribbean cuisine is an eclectic fusion of African, Amerindian, French, Indian, and Spanish influences. Can you believe a few decades ago, the Caribbean people considered their local dishes too native and uninteresting for the annual hoards of vacationing tourists. Instead they offered French food at hotels and resorts until enough tourists convinced them to share their local cuisine. Imagine!

Your guests will love any of these Caribbean-inspired Canadian Living recipes.

Caribbean appetizers:

• Chicken Mango Skewers
• Jerk Scallop Skewers
• Cocktail Patties
• Tostones (fried plantains)

Caribbean sides

• Nutty Coleslaw
• Grapefruit, Avocado and Spinach Salad with Papaya Dressing
• Rice and Peas

Caribbean mains

• Easy Island Chicken and Rice
• Roasted Jerk Tofu
• Caribbean Pork Burgers with Mango Salsa
• Coconut Curry Fish
• Jamaican Jerked Chicken
• Roasted Chicken on a bed of Plantains and Onions

Caribbean desserts

• Piña Colada Cheesecake
• Jamaican Coconut Drops
• Boscobel Beach Ginger Cake
• Tropical Fruit Pudding

Caribbean drinks
Nonalcoholic:

• Homemade Ginger Beer
• Frozen Mango Colada

Alcoholic:

• Rum Runner
• Rum Punch
• The Dark 'n' Stormy: Dark rum mixed with ginger beer - a traditional Caribbean elixir!

Invitations
For a fun twist, create Caribbean-bound airplane tickets. Or use tropical bird, tropical fish, seashell, flip-flop, butterfly or ocean motifs.

Activities
Caribbean style should be laid back, so don't force activities onto unwilling guests. That said, with a bit of rum you could start a Congo line or begin a limbo contest. Alternatively, hair stylists can be hired to braid hair.

For the kids
Kids love to join the Congo line or beat everyone at limbo. You can also continue the Pirates of the Caribbean theme and design a treasure hunt to keep them busy. Hair braiding would also be madly popular with little girls.

Favours
Give your guests bright little bags filled with a miniature rum bottle, seashell chocolates, sunscreen, hot sauce, a homemade jar of 'Jerk' seasoning, or flip-flops. You could also leave chocolate cigars at everyone's place setting.

Read more: Cuban cuisine: A Cuban menu for 12
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