By Cayman Compass contributor Christopher Tobutt
Families poured into the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park on Sunday, 25 Jan. for the annual Family Fun Day, a beloved tradition organised by The Garden Club of Grand Cayman that once again lived up to its name by providing fun for the whole family.
For some attendees, it’s an event they never miss. “We love coming here,” said Venessa Dunkley, watching her children Takaraa and Tidashi explore the Nature Table. “We normally get to come here on the weekends so the kids can play and have fun. We love the Children’s Garden, and we always look forward to the Family Fun Days.”
Across the lawn, Jakapob and Joanna played one of the garden games with their daughter Jasmine, joining dozens of families trying their hand at whack-a-mole, giant Jenga, Corn Hole and Connect 4.
Plants, crafts and creativity
Local vendors added their own flair. Delbra Campbell of Katherine’s Succulents displayed rows of miniature cacti and hardy plants, alongside handmade windchimes and shadowboxes crafted from silver thatch palm and burlap – a nod to traditional Caymanian materials.
Nearby, Garden Club volunteer Myline Francisco guided children through stencil art. “It’s very entertaining for the kids,” said mom Krista Ebanks. “The painting, the magic show, the culture – learning about thatch rope. It’s just so hands on. It’s a great experience for all the children.”
True to her point, the park’s famous blue iguanas wandered through the festivities at their leisure – “their park, after all,” as one volunteer joked.
Magic, music and the wonder of the Children’s Garden
Children gathered around The Mighty Ricado, the day’s magician, instantly recognisable in his printed tuxedo T-shirt and top hat. His theatrical “abracadabra!” kept young audiences spellbound.
The Children’s Garden itself offered endless adventure. Little ones posed inside the giant hermit crab shell, raced through the towering legs of the concrete land crab, climbed the observation tower, and joined art classes beneath it. The space felt “like a storybook,” one parent remarked.
Live music added to the festive atmosphere, with performances by Barefoot Man and later Eden Hurlston and his band, drawing families to the lawn to relax and enjoy the afternoon breeze.
A fundraiser with deep roots
For the Garden Club, the event is more than a celebration – it’s their most important fundraiser of the year. “Funds raised by this event went into making the Children’s Garden,” said Louise Jenkins.
Botanic Park General Manager John Lawrus agreed. “We must have had nearly a thousand people here enjoying the music, the food, the activities and, of course, all the wonderful plants.”
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