Summer of Rum

Summer of Rum is an outdoor festival held each year during Labor Day weekend in Tampa, Florida.  The main area of the festival consists of several rum sponsors selling cocktails, a food market featuring local vendors, and a large stage where several headliners perform in the evening.  There is also a separately ticketed Island Rum Tasting Party where additional rum brands pour samples of their expressions.  The festival commences with a fireworks show after the last band performs.

Tickets are discounted prior to the festival but prices increase as the date approaches. The general admission ticket includes entry to the festival and costs between $15 - $30.  The VIP ticket, which comes with unlimited rum drinks and water within the shaded VIP area, private restrooms, and a reserved viewing area at the front of the stage, costs between $85 - $200.  Tickets for the Island Rum Tasting Party (which do not include festival admission) include a souvenir tasting glass and cost between $30 - $45. It is recommended to purchase VIP and Rum Tasting tickets in advance through Eventbrite since those tickets are limited and may sell out.  General admission tickets are usually available at the door.

For 2019, the main rum sponsors were:

• Appleton (Jamaica)
• Blackheart Rum (Virgin Islands)
• Captain Morgan (Caribbean)
• Cruzan Rum (St. Croix)
• Kraken Rum (Trinidad & Tobago)
• Rekker Rum (Florida)

The participating brands for the Island Rum Tasting Party included:

• Afrohead Rum (Trinidad & Tobago)
• Alligator Bay Rum (Florida)
• Avuá Cachaça (Brazil)
• Bacardi Rum (Puerto Rico)
• Blackwell Rum (Jamaica)
• Copper Bottom Craft Distillery (Florida)
• Cutwater Spirits (California)
• Don Pancho (Panama)
• Don Q (Puerto Rico)
• El Encanto (Florida)
• Flor de Caña (Nicaragua)
• Gaspar's Rum (Florida)
• Gubba Rum (Colorado)
• Martí Rum (Panama)
• Miami Club (Florida)
• Mr. Tom's Spirits (Florida)
• Papa's Pilar (Caribbean)
• Rekker Rum (Florida)
• Rhum Clément (Martinique)
• Siesta Key Rum (Florida)
• Stolen Rum (Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica)
• Tanduay Asian Rum (Philippines)