Almost every weekend, there is a festival or celebration around the Island. These are some of the biggest and most popular.

Festivals in Puerto Rico are colorful and loud: live bands play, amusement park rides twirl, parades take over streets, and, of course, fried foods are enjoyed. Each festival is rooted in tradition, often Catholic in origin, starting mostly mid-week and lasting through the weekend.

Some events are held in the San Juan metro area, while others will require a road trip to explore more of Puerto Rico. Going to a Puerto Rican festival is a great way to experience Boricua culture while having a great time.

Visit our Events Calendar to find things to do around the Island

Puerto Rico celebrates Three Kings Day, a key Puerto Rican festival, on January 6.

On January 6, Puerto Rico celebrates Three Kings Day or Epiphany.

Fiesta de los Reyes Magos

Date: January 6

Celebrated in: Juana DíazIsabela, and other municipalities

Fun things to do: 

  • Watch a reenactment of the Nativity at a local church
  • See the Three Wise Men during the Reyes Magos parade
  • Open presents on the morning of January 6
  • Visit the Home of the Three Kings in the town of Juana Díaz

Along with Christmas and New Year's, the Epiphany on January 6 is also celebrated as part of the holiday season in Puerto Rico. According to Catholic tradition, the Three Wise Men (in Spanish, los Tres Reyes Magos) visited baby Jesus in the manger to deliver gifts. In Puerto Rico, town festivals throw parades featuring locals and actors dressed as the Three Wise Men as they pass out presents to children. The two most famous festivals are Fiesta de Reyes Juanadina, in the town of Juana Díaz, and Fiesta de Reyes Isabelinos, in Isabela.

Tip: Arrive early to find a good spot along the Three Kings parade route

People enjoying Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, a popular Puerto Rico celebration.

Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián: One of the most anticipated parties of the year!

Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián

Date: Third weekend of January

Celebrated in: Old San Juan

Fun things to do:

  • See the Comparsa de los Cabezudos, where giant puppet heads parade through the streets
  • Buy souvenirs at local arts and handicraft stalls on the streets of the Old Town
  • Dance the night away to the rhythm of local bands playing on the streets

One of the most anticipated Puerto Rican festivals of the year and the unofficial close of the holiday season, the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián takes over Old San Juan from Wednesday evening until Sunday afternoon. During the day, plazas are filled to the brim with artists and artisans; some have stages for live music, dance, and circus performances. In the evening, the party ignites, and the street fills with people and music.

Tip: Wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated

 

Festival de la Novilla

Date: Third weekend of January

Celebrated in: San Sebastián

Fun things to do:

  • See the flower-crowned cow leading the procession through town
  • Enjoy the amusement park rides
  • Learn about Puerto Rico’s agricultural roots

novilla is a heifer, and it is the focus of a popular celebration in San Sebastián, a rural town on the west side of the Island. Celebrated on Sunday, live bands perform everything from folk music to salsa, artisans, and fried food vendors occupy the town square, and amusement park rides are set up. A cow is decked out in a crown of flowers and leads a parade through the town where scenes of country life are depicted on elaborate floats. The Festival de la Novilla closes with a concert of traditional music.

Tip: Explore the food stalls for a taste of traditional Puerto Rican cuisine

 

Festival del Frío

Date: Late February 

Celebrated in: Adjuntas

Fun things to do:

  • Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area
  • Don’t miss the  Trovadores Competition, a type of traditional Puerto Rican music
  • See the local houses all decorated with vibrant, colorful flowers

On an Island known for its warm weather year-round, the Festival del Frío, or the “Festival of the Cold” in English, celebrates the coldest peak in Puerto Rico: the mountainous municipality of Adjuntas. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, local artisans, games, food, live music, and more in a family-friendly environment.

Tip: Bring a light jacket or sweater for the full “frío” experience

Artists dressed as living statues with a decorated fan at La Campechada, a vibrant cultural festival in Puerto Rico.

La Campechada

Date: May or November

Celebrated in: Rotates across cities every year

Fun things to do:

  • Experience firsthand rich Puerto Rican culture
  • Attend a workshop on local art
  • Listen to local musicians and theater artists perform

La Campechada is a Puerto Rican festival that brings together artists, performers, musicians, actors, puppeteers, and others with the aim of educating the public about Puerto Rican art and culture. Every year, the festival is dedicated to a prominent Puerto Rican artist and that becomes the inspiration for many of the new works presented during the festivities. There is an Artisan Fair, a Book Fair, an Art Fair, guided walks, conferences, workshops, live drawing, theatrical performances, and more. The city hosting the event changes each year.

Tip: Check the schedule in advance to catch specific music or dance performances you’re interested in

Colorful puppets in a lively Ponce carnaval parade, a famous festival in Puerto Rico.

Large, colorful puppets take to the streets at Carnaval Ponceño.

Carnaval Ponceño

Date: February or March

Celebrated in: Ponce

Fun things to do:

  • Enjoy the colorful parades featuring the long-snouted vejigantes
  • Wear a mask and mingle with the locals
  • Enjoy the lively atmosphere of La Guancha, a boardwalk area with restaurants, bars, and shops

This annual Puerto Rico celebration  in the town of Ponce lasts a full week and ends the day before Ash Wednesday. Every day of the Carnaval features colorful parades and activities, with long-snouted vejigantes (a local folk character that wears a colorful papier-mâché mask and multicolor jumpsuit) taunting the crowd, the appearance of King Momo and the coronation of the Carnival Queen, a masquerade ball, and finally the Burial of the Sardine, a simulated funeral marking the beginning of Lent.

Tip: Bring a camera to capture the elaborate costumes

 

Festival de Teatro Puertorriqueño e Internacional

Date: May to June

Celebrated in: SanturceSan Juan

Fun things to do:

  • Immerse yourself in the variety of plays, musicals, and other theatrical productions available
  • Expand your knowledge of Puerto Rican arts through educational activities, such as workshops, conferences, and talks
  • Enjoy traditional Puerto Rican cuisine at the festival’s food stalls

The Francisco Arriví and Victoria Espinosa theaters come to life during this theater festival, which features performances of both local and international plays. Every year, the festival is dedicated to a prominent member of the theater community and features all types of theatrical works—from classic dramas to experimental performances. The theaters are located in the heart of Santurce, otherwise known as the art district of San Juan, and are surrounded by hip restaurants, coffee shops, and remarkable street art.

Tip: Buy your tickets in advance as they sell out quickly, especially for the most popular shows

Plan a street art tour around Santurce

A person holding a pineapple while relaxing on a beach during Festival de la Piña Paradisíaca, a Puerto Rican festival.

Enjoy pineapples in paradise each summer in La Parguera.

Festival de la Piña Paradisíaca

Date: May or June

Celebrated at: La PargueraLajas

Fun things to do:

  • Buy local pineapples and other agricultural products
  • Enjoy typical fried foods like empanadillas and alcapurrias
  • Dance all evening to local bands

The "Pineapple Festival" is a Puerto Rican festival celebrated every year in La Parguera, an oceanfront community in the southern town of Lajas. The festival features vendors selling locally grown pineapples and dozens of local agricultural products and fried foods while local bands liven up the evening. La Parguera is packed with restaurants and bars as well as small hotels, charter boat rentals, and even a bioluminescent bay. During the celebration, there is a 5K race with an impressive view of the marina and mangrove coves that make La Parguera a favorite getaway for both locals and tourists.

Tip: Do not miss the amazing bioluminescent bay

People enjoying the beach during the Noche de San Juan celebration in Puerto Rico, a tradition filled with magic and festivity.

Noche de San Juan 

Date: June 23

Celebrated in: San Juan

Fun things to do:

  • Complete the midnight ritual at the beach to guarantee a prosperous rest of the year
  • Celebrate like a local by heading to your preferred beach early to get a great spot near the shore
  • Eat local food at any of the barbecues set up on the beach

Saint John's Eve, locally known as Noche de San Juan, is an unofficial celebration in the capital of Puerto Rico that celebrates the nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Hundreds of people crowd the beaches so that at midnight they can jump backwards into the ocean seven times for good luck. Some hotels and bars also throw parties in honor of Noche de San Juan.

Tip: Avoid the busy beaches by joining the festivities at any of the hotels throughout the island that hold big parties to celebrate the occasion

 

Festival de Santiago Apóstol

Date: Last weekend of July

Celebrated in: Loíza

Fun things to do:

  • Experience the unique vejigantes featured in this Puerto Rican celebration
  • Try local delicacies such as alcapurriaspiononos, and bacalaítos
  • Have fun on the amusement rides

In Loíza, there is another style of vejigante, the ones whose masks are made from coconut and driftwood. During the Festival of Saint James, the Apostle, in Spanish Santiago Apóstol, there is a lively parade through the town where the vejigantes and the Spanish knights do battle, representing the struggle between the forces of good and evil. Bomba music, a traditional folk music with a distinctive African influence, thumps out while dancers use their colorful skirts to create a dialogue with the drummers, and the musicians respond to the dancers rather than the other way around.

Tip: Learn beforehand about the different types of vejigantes and other traditions to better understand and enjoy this colorful festival

Stones depicting Taíno-inspired hieroglyphs as part of the Festival Nacional Indígena in Puerto Rico.

Festival Nacional Indígena

Date: End of November

Celebrated in: Jayuya

Fun things to do:

  • Watch Indigenous Taino ceremonies and costume pageants
  • Visit nearby coffee plantations
  • Take a hot air balloon ride for a panoramic view of the town and the scenic mountain landscapes

This festival in Puerto Rico celebrates the Island’s Indigenous roots and the influence of Taíno culture and traditions. The town of Jayuya was named after one of the big caciques, or chiefs, that lived on the Island when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s and where Taíno hieroglyphs were found carved into a giant boulder. The Taínos were almost eradicated by the Spanish but their influence is still present in Puerto Rican culture. Jayuya also contains the highest peak in Puerto Rico, some of the best coffee plantations on the Island, a moonshine distillery, and a hot air balloon. This balloon is tethered to the ground and ascends up to 500 feet, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of Jayuya and its surrounding areas. Passengers can enjoy views of the nearby mountains, and on clear days, even catch a glimpse of the Caribbean Sea in the distance.

Tip: Do not miss the Piedra Escrita (‘written stone’ in Spanish), a rock art site containing pictographs associated with the Taino culture

Monument to the Mask Festival in Hatillo, one of Puerto Rico's unique cultural festivals.

Take a picture with the monument celebrating this iconic festival. 

Festival de las Máscaras de Hatillo

Date: December 28

Celebrated in: Hatillo

Fun things to do:

  • Indulge in local delicacies served by street vendors
  • Enjoy local parades showcasing colorful costumes and masks
  • Learn about the Canary Islands’ town heritage

This particular Puerto Rican celebration commemorates the Día de los Santos Inocentes when, according to the Bible, day infant boys under the age of three were ordered to be killed by King Herod, who was looking for Baby Jesus. In the town of Hatillo, this is called the Festival of Masks and features people dressing up in colorful and elaborate costumes for a parade with equally outlandish floats crossing through the town.

Tip: Arrive early to get a good spot along the parade route

Coquito, a traditional holiday drink, enjoyed during Puerto Rico festivals and celebrations.

It isn't the holidays without sipping a creamy glass of coquito, Puerto Rico's version of eggnog.

Nochebuena

Date: December 24

Celebrated in: All over the Island

Fun things to do:

During Christmas Eve, known as Nochebuena, people gather with their families and friends to eat lechón and arroz con gandules (roast pork and rice with pigeon peas), drink coquito (like eggnog but coconut-based), and sing trullas (Christmas songs usually accompanied by drums, maracas, and güiros). If you're a visitor to the Island, most tourism services will be operating on the 24th, and in the evening many hotels and restaurants offer special Christmas dinners.

Tip: Most restaurants will close early so employees can gather with their families for dinner. Hotel restaurants usually offer a Christmas Eve holiday feast for visitors

Read more about Holiday traditions in Puerto Rico

NYE lively party celebration in San Juan, one of the main festivals in Puerto Rico.

New Year's Eve

Date: December 31

Celebrated in: All over the Island

Fun things to do:

  • Attend one of the New Year’s Eve parties held in hotels or discos on the Island’s main cities
  • Do not miss the fireworks announcing the arrival of the new year
  • Escape the parties and retreat to the countryside or welcome the new year by the beach

Enjoy the end of the year celebration at one of San Juan's gorgeous hotels, dinner overlooking the ocean followed by an open bar, and fireworks at midnight. Many restaurants also offer special menus for that night and drink specials.

Tip: Book your hotel room in advance as Christmas is a very busy season in Puerto Rico

How to celebrate New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico

Start Planning a Trip to Puerto Rico

Plan your next trip to experience the vibrant energy of Puerto Rican festivals! From colorful parades to cultural events, Puerto Rico celebrations are filled with music, traditional food and drinks, and tradition. Whether you visit for Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián or the lively Ponce Carnaval, Puerto Rico festivals showcase the island's rich culture. Don’t miss out on these unforgettable festivals in Puerto Rico!

Plan Your Trip to Puerto Rico

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