The following festivals are the most popular organized events in Puerto Rico. In addition to these, each town celebrates its
patron saint's day
(
fiesta patronale
) and the ten days leading up to it. The PRTC has details.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
Carnaval
Ponce
Celebration during the six days preceding Lent, featuring parades of traditional
vejigantes
, or masked revelers.
MAY/JUNE
Casals Music Festival
San Juan
Two weeks of orchestral music with world-renowned musicians.
Heineken Jazzfest
San Juan
Four days of Latin jazz, performed by Puerto Rican and international musicians, at the Sixto Escobar Park in Condado.
San Juan Bautista Day/Noche de San Juan
(June 24/23)
San Juan's
fiesta patronal
. Parties and festivities in Old San Juan culminate with crowds walking backward into the sea three times, in honour of St John the Baptist.
JULY
Santiago Apostol Festival
Loiza
Good place to experience the customs of
santerķa
. Very African in flavor, with costumed parades and
bomba
drumming. Not to be missed.
NOVEMBER
National Bomba y Plena Festival
Ponce
African-based drumming and singing, by performers from all over the island
