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By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger
Thank God the tiki bar is openThank God the tiki torch still shinesThank God the tiki bar is openCome on in and open up your mind
– Jimmy Buffett, The Tiki Bar Is Open
I have found tiki heaven, and it is Tiki Oasis San Diego.
There are few better places to “get your tiki on” than at Tiki Oasis. The annual event – held the first weekend-plus of August – is a five-day extravaganza of everything tiki from bands (some playing poolside), DJs, rum seminars with tastngs, parties in hotel rooms hosted by rum companies (whoa!), and and the incredible Tiki Marketplace with everything tiki you can imagine (and then some).
It is so overwhelming that I have been for two straight years and still haven’t figured out everything. Although I think by my third time, I’ll have it down pat.
Then again, I’ll probably still miss something because Tiki Oasis San Diego is more than an event – it’s several events within the event. One glance at the daily schedule proves my point. Plus, just walking around the grounds of the ’70s retro Town & Country hotel is enough to provide entertainment by looking at the exotic tiki costumes and hats people wear. The pool gate is open and one of my personal favorite aspects is being in the pool while the band is jamming tiki tunes. Talk about an awesome party scene!
Then again, the rum-tasting seminars are great (congratulations to Irvine Gonzalez of San Diego’s Grass Skirt for winning the Battle of the Bartenders), the Tiki Marketplace is incredible and the room-hopping parties take the event to the top of the volcano, so to speak. In 2023, Don Papa Rum had an invitation-only event one afternoon and at night opened up its suite to all tiki ticket holders.This was just one of several room parties hosted by the rum distilleries, a nightly event that goes from 10-midnight. So pace yourself! As difficult as that might be at Tiki Oasis San Diego. As an example, PubClubette Ashley and I were greeted upon our arrival on Saturday by a lady who invited us to an afternoon room party hosted by Kuleana rum. A-lo-HA!
@pubclub.com Don Papa Rim hosted this way-cool party in its hotel room during Tiki Oasis San Diego! #tikioasis2023 #tikioasis #tikioasissandiego #donpaparum #pubclub #parry #partytime #rum ♬ original sound – PubClub
Imagine that – room hopping, each one decorated like the tropics with DJs and pop-up tiki bars featuring expert bartenders handing out samples of rum drinks. Tip: The idea is to go from room to room and not to linger, to smoothly move from party to party. This allows your fellow Tiki Oasis’ers to also experience different the rooms.
Heck, even the Tiki Marketplace blows me away. It has vendors who make and sell tiki mugs, tiki bar glasses, tiki furniture (even a tiki dog house!), lights, clothes, tiki bar signs, artwork and, well, you just have to see it all to experience it for yourself.
All this takes place in a typical tropical laid-back scene with friendly people who have a few fun things in common: they all like tiki Polynesian things, rum drinks, music and having a good time. So what’s not to like about it, right!?
Thank God the tiki bar is openThank God the tiki torch still shinesThank God the tiki bar is openCome on in and open up your mind
Link: Tiki Oasis Official Website
There is no doubt that it can be expensive but the atmosphere, Tiki Marketplace and room-hopping certainly make it a unique tiki experience even without the tastings and seminars.
Great you got a press pass. The cost is hundreds to thousands of dollars without one. They charge extra for everything.