Bermuda will host its first rum festival this weekend.

Gosling’s Ltd has teamed up with the West End Development Corporation for the two-day event at Dockyard to celebrate International Rum Day, which falls on Sunday.

Rum-inspired food and drink will be available at West End businesses, while live entertainment and giant lawn games will be among the attractions throughout the weekend.

Organisers plan to make the festival an annual event.

Andrew Holmes, brand director at Gosling’s Export (Bermuda) Ltd said: “We understand the trying times our industry partners are faced with.

“It is our hope by supporting this special event it will not only drive traffic to the West End establishments but also allow them to showcase Gosling’s rum in their very own rum-infused creations. “Although we are celebrating International Rum Day worldwide, this is a family-friendly event. Dockyard is full of rich history and offers exciting outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.”

Stephanie Rodill, marketing and events manager at Wedco, said: “This festival is perfectly aligned with International Rum Day, and not only celebrates the superior rum products produced by Gosling’s, which Bermuda has become known for internationally, but it also celebrates and highlights the creativity and innovativeness of the Dockyard community.

“Our businesses have taken a well-known and well-loved product and used it to create something entirely new.”

She added: “We hope this rum festival will be the first of many rum festivals to come, each year growing on the creativity and innovation of the previous year.”

Businesses taking part include Alex & Pete’s Bermuda Artisan Ice Cream with Gosling’s rum-infused ice cream; the Bermuda Fudge Company with rum-inspired fudge and Duch Pops with Dark ‘n Stormy Pops.

The National Museum of Bermuda will host a Gosling’s rum tasting session on Sunday at 2.30pm. Live entertainment starts on Friday night with Randy Lambert at Café Amici from 5.30pm to 9pm and a family friendly movie on the giant screen in the Victualling Yard at 8.30pm.

Wayne Davis will perform on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm and Mike Hind from 5pm to 8pm in the Victualling Yard, while B&J band will be performing at Bone Fish Bar & Grill from 1.30pm to 5pm. Randy Lambert will perform at Bone Fish on Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.

A late ferry will take guests back to Hamilton at 9.30pm on Friday and Saturday. She added: “This weekend promises to be an inspired one and we hope everyone comes out to support the efforts of the participating Dockyard community members.”

• For more information, visit dockyardbermuda.com/events