May: 3rd DR Golf Open 2014 - Mon, 12 May, 2014 -  All Day Event

The 3rd Dominican Republic Professional Golf Open will take place at Teeth of the Dog in La Romana this year. The tournament is scheduled for May 2014. Cash prize money of US$150,000 has been set aside. The tournament is operated under the PGA Tour Latin America (Nec Series Tour). PGA Tour Latinoamerica president Jack Warfield was in Santo Domingo last Tuesday, 12 November to make the announcement. The PGA has been backing the Dominican Republic Open for the past two years. The event is held to help Latin American golf players prepare for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. 

May: International Book Fair: The fair is held at the Plaza de la Cultura in Santo Domingo and commemorates the anniversary of the constitution of the Dioceses of Santo Domingo. Catholic editors, speakers and experts participate in the fair. http://www.ferilibro.com 

June: The creators of  Taste Santo Domingo  will once again host the Punta Cana Food & Wine Festival.  There can be no better reason to visit Punta Cana in June than to sample these culinary treats. This will be the second event in Punta Cana, hosting international personalities from the Gastronomy industry, Culinary Demos, Wine Tastings, Food Tastings, Cocktails and Special Dinners and many other activities during the 2 days, hosted in the luxury Paradisus Palma Real Resort in Punta Cana. You can enjoy this unique experience with a Day Pass or a package for whole event. For tickets and further information on the festival and activities.  http://puntacanafoodandwine.com

June: Puerto Plata Cultural Festival: Normally held the third week of June, the Puerto Plata Cultural Festival offers an insight into Dominican culture with Folk Music, traditional African tribal dances, salsa and merengue. There are also many exhibits of crafts from local artists. 

June: Kite-boarding World Cup: Cabarete, the Kite-boarding Capital of the World, is known for hosting the most spectacular kite-boarding events. The region ensures the perfect wind and water conditions for competitors. www.cabareteevents.com 

July – August: Merengue Festival in Santo Domingo: Every year top bands at Santo Domingo's seaside promenade, El Malecón, pump out the infectious music that is much loved by Dominicans at the Merengue Festival. Locals and tourists alike dance on the beach, in hotels and throughout the capital with amateur DJs on every block. 

July: Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) World Sailing Championship: The championship is the most important sailing event to take place in Dominican Republic. Around 300 children and youth sailors from nearly 70 different countries are expected to participate. www.optiworlds2012.org

August: Colonial City Merece un Son: Free performances of musical groups, including jazz and merengue every Sunday from 5-10 p.m. at the San Francisco Monastery in Santo Domingo's Colonial City. 

August: The Hotel & Restaurant Commercial Exhibition: The show, held at the Fiesta Hotel & Casino in Santo Domingo, offers a full range of product and services for all areas of the food service and lodging industry. www.Asonahores.com

September - Symphony Orchestra Fall Season: Continues in Santo Domingo. 

1-6 September - Dominican Republic Golf Exchange: An event focusing on Golf travel and promotion in the Dominican Republic as the number one golfing destination in the Caribbean.  This a good opportunity to meet with our golf travel partners and it will also give you can also play a round of golf on one of our top golf courses. www.drgolftravel.com

9-15 SEPT 2014 - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC GROOVEFEST: GrooveFest International Music Festival will be 9-15 September 2014 in the Dominican Republic. It is the first festival of its kind in the Dominican Republic featuring some of the biggest DJs in the world. http://www.groovefestevents.com/ 

1-5 October - Ladies Golf & Spa Tournament - October 1-5, 2014 in Punta Cana pic.twitter.com/KUOM7qTIDR

 October 3-5 Regional Music Festival                                                                                                                          This top regional music festival, and certainly the Dominican Republic's most important, is scheduled for October. The festival will be held in Santo Domingo's Olympic Stadium, situated in the very heart of the capital city. http://www.accessdr.com/2014/03/festival-presidente-one-of-the-top-music-festivals-in-the-caribbean-scheduled-for-october-2014/

October - Puerto Plata Merengue Festival: Vendors set up booths on both sides of the malecón the first week of October and sell a variety of homemade goods to eat, drink or wear, and a huge stage is erected for concerts by famous merengue musicians. www.PuertoPlata.com 

October: Taste Santo Domingo: The most complete gastronomic event in the country where the audience can enjoy multiple activities such as wine tasting, dinners, private events and award ceremonies. Also, the excellent cuisine that Dominican Republic offers. www.tastesantodomingo.com

October - Dominicana Moda: Celebrates Dominican fashion one week each year in October. The event is usually held at the Occidental El Embajador Hotel. www.DominicanaModa.com

October – January: Dominican Winter Professional Baseball: The winter season kicks off with series games taking place all across the country starting in September. Many U.S. MLB players began their careers in Dominican baseball. www.lidom.com/calendario.htm

November - Dominican Jazz Festival: Annual event held in   Cabarete and Santiago that attracts large audiences who come to hear the best from international and national jazz musicians. www.DRjazzfestival.com

December -La Noche Larga de los Museos: On this special night, all of the magnificent museums in Santo Domingo are open until midnight 

New Year's Celebration: Every year a New Year's celebration is held on the Avenida del Puerto and the malecón in Santo Domingo. 

For further information on the destination please contact: Esther Smith: pr.uk@godominicanrepublic.com Tel/fax: 01962 711239 – Mobile: 07768901197 -Website:  www.godominicanrepublic.com – high res photographs – www.drsmartlibrary.com

About Dominican Republic: Rich in history, the Dominican Republic's first tourist was Christopher Columbus in 1492. Since then, it has developed into a diverse and luxurious destination offering both Dominican Republic and European flavours to more than 220,000 British visitors each year.  A leader in eco-tourism, the Dominican Republic created the world's first Whale Sanctuary and has established protection zones for more than 20 percent of its land and coastal areas. The country boasts some of the world's best golf courses and beaches, the largest marinas in the Caribbean and is a chosen escape for celebrities, couples and families. Visit the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism's official Web site at: www.godominicanrepublic.com or call +44 (0)20 7242 7778.