Up North Food & Music Festival: Your San Pedro Food & Culture Day
If you love Belize for its energy, flavor, and culture, April 26 is a date to save.
The Up North Food & Music Festival is bringing together live music, cultural performance, island competitions, family activities, and an incredible lineup of food partners—including Akasha—for one full day of “this is why we love San Pedro” vibes.
This is the kind of event that feels like a Belize food tour and a cultural showcase in one place—no planning, no bouncing around, just a full day of music and flavor.
The essentials (what you need to know)
- Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Location: Up North Bar & Grill
One day. One place. Everything that makes San Pedro feel alive.
Why this is a must-do April event in San Pedro
If you’ve been searching for San Pedro Belize events that go beyond “just a night out,” this is it.
The festival blends:
- live music all day
- Garifuna drumming celebrating Belizean culture
- food partners and vendors across the island (Akasha included)
- games, competitions, and family activities (yes, there’s a Kids Korner)
It’s a community event with real island personality—perfect for travelers who want to experience Belize beyond the beach.
Live music + cultural performance (the heart of the day)
This isn’t background music. It’s a full lineup.
Live performances include:
- Sweet Pain Band 3.0
- TLC Band
- Dennis Wolfe & The Playadores
And a special cultural highlight:
Garifuna drumming performance by Au Bu Amurunu (“I for U & U for Me”)—a powerful celebration of Belizean heritage and rhythm.
Food partners (yes—Akasha is in)
For food lovers, this festival is basically a “one-day Belize food tour” format: walk, taste, repeat.
Featured food partners include:
- Frenchy’s
- Akasha
- Playa De Sala
- Charmaine’s
…and many more vendors and local creators.
If you’ve been wanting to experience dining in Belize through different styles and flavors, this is a fun way to sample the island’s food culture in one place.
Festival highlights (the fun, competitive side of Belize)
Expect the kind of island energy that turns strangers into a crowd:
- Stew Chicken & Rice & Beans Challenge
- Speed Beer Pong Competition
- Greased Pole Competition
- Festival Jam Session (sponsored by Crocs)
- Kids Korner with games, activities, and bouncy houses
There’s also a charity partner: Hope Haven Children’s Home.
How to do the festival like a pro (quick tips)
If you want the day to feel smooth (not chaotic), here are a few simple moves:
- Arrive earlier if you want the calmest start
- Pace your tasting—think “small bites, many moments”
- Take breaks between sets: shade + water = better day
- If you’re traveling as a family, the Kids Korner is your built-in reset zone
This is a long day (11 AM to 11 PM), so you don’t have to do it all at once—just build your rhythm.
Make Akasha part of your festival weekend
Festivals create the best kind of travel memory: the ones you didn’t have to force.
So whether you see Akasha at the festival or you save Akasha as your “anchor dinner” that weekend, make sure you lock your table in advance—April is a busy season in San Pedro.
The Up North Food & Music Festival is one of those days that captures Belize in full color: music, culture, food, and community—everything in one place.
See you there—San Pedro, it’s your turn.
