December

The Festival del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano (Festival of New Latin American Cinema, c/o the Instituto de Cinematografía Calle 23 #1155, Vedado, tel. 07/838-2354, www.habanafilmfestival.com or www.cubacine.cu) is one of Cuba’s most glittering events. Cuban actors and directors schmooze with Hollywood counterparts at parties in the Hotel Nacional and Hotel Habana Libre. Movies from throughout the Americas and Europe are shown across the city and the festival culminates with Cuba’s own version of the Oscar, the Coral prizes.

Buy your tickets for particular cinemas well before the programming is announced; you can buy a pass (CUC25) good for the duration of the festival.

Every odd year sees the Festival Internacional de Música Popular Benny Moré, featuring a panorama of popular Cuban music.

January

The Cabildos festival is held on January 6, when Habana Vieja resounds with festivities recalling the days when Afro-Cuban cabildos danced through the streets. Contact Agencia de Viajes San Cristóbal (Oficios #110, e/ Lamparilla y Amargura, tel. 07/861-9171, www.viajessancristobal.cu).

February

The star-studded Festival Internacional de Jazz (International Havana Jazz Festival, Calle 15, esq. F, Vedado, tel. 07/862-4938, romeu [at] cubarte [dot] cult [dot] cu), now held in February, is highlighted by the greats of Cuban jazz, such as Chucho Valdés and Irakere, and Juan Formell and Los Van Van. Concerts are held at various venues.

The Habanos Festival (tel. 07/204-0510, www.habanos.com) celebrates Cuban cigars. It opens at the Tropicana (Calle 72 #4504 y Línea del Ferrocarril, Marianao, tel. 07/267-1717, www.cabaret tropicana.com), with an elegant dinner and auction for big spenders. Tickets are hard to come by.

The Feria Internacional del Libro de la Habana (Havana Book Fair) is organized by the Instituto Cubano del Libro (Cuban Book Institute, Calle O’Reilly #14, Habana Vieja, tel. 07/862-4789, www.cubaliteraria.cult.cu) and held in Plaza de Armas.

© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Cuba, 5th Edition