Festivals in Puerto Rico to Experience the Authentic Local Culture

Puerto Rico is an island renowned for its culture and historic past. The Jayuya region of the country is testament to this legacy, being the home of the Taino tribe that resided on the islands before the Spanish discovered it. The region is also home to the tallest peak in the country.

Date of festival: : End of November

Celebrated at: : Jayuya. Puerto Rico

Fun things to do: : Watch the Taino ceremonies and costume pageant, visit the coffee plantations, take a hot air balloon ride

Everybody loves a long holiday, and Puerto Rico has the longest holiday season in the world. The San Sebastian Festival (known as Fiesta de la Calle San Sebastián), marks the end of the winter festivities on the islands. Taking place during the third week of January across multiple days, the festival honors Saint Sebastian, a Roman Catholic saint popular throughout the region. The most famous celebrations of this festival take place in the Old San Juan area.

Date of festival: : Third week of January

Celebrated at: : Old San Juan

Christmas is the biggest festival for Christians, marking the birth of Jesus Christ. As a result, it is one of the most celebrated festivals on the island thanks to its predominantly Roman Catholic population.

Date of festival: : 25th December

Celebrated at: : All across the island

Fun things to do: : Attend a Misa de Gallo, sing parrandas in the street, indulge in local delicacies over a meal

Noche de San Juan is the eve before the Feast of St. John the Baptist, a popular saint in the Roman Catholic faith. Despite its religious origins, the festival is now one of the most popular party events on the island, marking the arrival of the summer solstice.

Date of festival: : June 23rd

Celebrated at: : All across the island, especially the beaches

Fun things to do: : Flip backwards at least three into the water on the stroke of midnight, attend a party

Known to the locals as Fiesta de los Reyes Magos, the Three Kings Day falls on the 6th of January every year. The day commemorates the visiting of Baby Jesus by the Three Kings after his birth with gifts. The festival is marked by parties that are open for one and all, occurring on the streets and neighborhoods of Puerto Rico.

Date of festival: : 6th January

Celebrated at: : All across the island, especially San Juan

Fun things to do: : Sing parrandas in the street, watch a reenactment of the Nativity at a church, enjoy a street party

Good Friday and Easter Sunday mark the culmination of the Holy Week festivities, an important week for Roman Catholics. The festival also marks the beginning of the beach season for the locals and is considered to be the biggest holiday on the island.

Date of festival: : Between March 25th and April 15th

Celebrated at: : All across the island, especially the beaches

The island of Puerto Rico is renowned for its cultural heritage especially in the field of music and arts. La Campechada is a festival to promote the local arts and culture to the public as well as the visiting tourists.

Date of festival: : Between November and December every year

Celebrated at: : Location varies every year

Fun things to do: : Attend a workshop on local art, listen to local musicians and theater artists perform

The Ponce Carnival (locally known as Carnaval de Ponce) is one of the oldest carnivals held in the western hemisphere. The week long festival occurs in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lent season for Catholics. During these celebrations, local artists and musicians showcase their talents while entertaining the audiences thoroughly!

Date of festival: : Held for a week in February or March

Celebrated at: : Ponce, Puerto Rico

Fun things to do: : Attend the Vejigantes Party, wear a mask, attend the Burial of the Sardine ritual and sing the song of the same name

Dating back to 1823, the Festival de las Máscaras de Hatillo marks the Feast of Holy Innocents, which falls on December 28th every year. On this day, according to the Bible, infant boys under the age of 3 were ordered to be killed by King Herod, who was looking for Baby Jesus.

Date of festival: : 28th December

Celebrated at: : Hatillo, Puerto Rico

Fun things to do: : Wear colorful costumes and masks, enjoy local parades, art and delicacies

The tropical weather of Puerto Rico makes it a great place to grow pineapples, a popular fruit consumed across the globe. The oceanfront community of La Parguera celebrates the importance of this fruit in the form of the Pineapple Festival.

Date of festival: : June 7th - 9th

Celebrated at: : La Parguera, Lajas

Fun things to do: : Participate in the 5K run, visit the bioluminescent bay, enjoy the local music and cuisine