At night, most of Barahona’s young people hang out along the Malecón, flirting, spinning around on their mopeds, and playing loud music.

Los Robles (Av. Enriquillo and Nuestra Sra. del Rosario, tel. 809/524-1629, 9 a.m.–2 a.m.) is a good spot for a beer. You can sit on the outdoor patio or go inside to the brand-new disco and dance to some salsa, merengue, and bachata. It’s a happening spot.

Lotus (Calle Padre Billini at Nuestra Sra. del Rosario, 7:30 p.m.–2 a.m. Wed.–Sun., US$1), across from the Parque Central, has been a main dance club in Barahona for years. It’s a good (not seedy) place to go to have fun.

Barahona’s Carnaval is celebrated in February with the rest of the Dominican Republic (specific date varies). In July, the Festival de Atabales is a celebration and an educational opportunity to see the amalgamation of musical instruments that have come together from the mix of cultures making up the fabric of the Barahona area. The African heritage of the slaves that were brought during the Spanish colonial era is evident in the dance’s movements and the accompanying instrument’s rhythms. This festival is a genuine Dominican treasure that celebrates Afro-Caribbean heritage.