Holidays and Festivals

No matter when you visit Puerto Rico [1], there’s a good chance there’s a holiday or festival going on somewhere on the island. Among the biggest festivals are Ponce’s Carnaval [2] in February; Hatillo’s Festival de Máscaras and Dia de Los Inocentes in December; and Festival Nacional Indígena in Jayuya [3] in November. For more information on those festivals, see their respective chapters.

Being a U.S. commonwealth, Puerto Rico has adopted an American-style celebration of Christmas, but it also celebrates the more traditional Los Reyes Magos, also known as Three Kings Day, on January 6. On January 5, children fill shoeboxes with grass to feed the Wise Men’s camels and place them under their beds. In the morning, the grass is gone and in its place is a present.

But most notably, all 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico [1] honor their patron saints with annual festivals called Fiestas Patronales. Although special Masses and religious processions may be a part of the celebrations, secular festivities such as musical performances, dancing, traditional foods, artisan booths, and games often take precedence. The festivals typically take place in the main plaza.

Fiestas Patronales Schedule

February

• Manatí: La Virgen de La Candelaria, February 2
• Mayagüez: La Virgen de La Candelaria, February 2
• Coamo [4]: La Virgen de La Candelaria and San Blas, February 3

March

• Loíza [5]: San Patricio, March 17
• Lares [6]: San José, March 19
• Luquillo [7]: San José, March 19

May

• Arecibo: Apóstol San Felipe, May 1
• Maunabo [8]: San Isidro, May 15
• Toa Alta: San Fernando, May 30

June

• Barranquitas [9]: San Antonio de Padua, June 13
• Dorado: San Antonio de Padua, June 13
• Isabela: San Antonio de Padua, June 13
• San Juan [10]: San Juan Bautista, June 23
• Orocovis [11]: San Juan Bautista, June 24
• Toa Baja: San Pedro Apóstol, June 30

July

• Culebra [12]: Virgen del Carmen, July 16
• Hatillo: Virgen del Carmen, July 16
• Morovis [11]: Virgen del Carmen, July 16
• Aibonito [9]: Santiago Apóstol, July 25
• Fajardo [13]: Santiago Apóstol, July 25
• Guánica [14]: Santiago Apóstol, July 25
• Loíza [5]: Santiago Apóstol, July 25
• San Germán: San Germán, July 31

August

• Cayey [15]: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, August 15
• Adjuntas [16]: San Joaquín and Santa Ana, August 21
• Rincón: Santa Rosa de Lima, August 30

September

• Jayuya [3]: Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate, September 8
• Moca: Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate, September 8
• Salinas [17]: Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate, September 8
• Cabo Rojo: San Miguel Arcangel, September 29
• Utuado [18]: San Miguel Arcangel, September 29

October

• Yabucoa [8]: Los Angeles Custodios, October 2
• Naguabo [19]: Nuestra Señora del Rosario, October 7
• Vega Baja: Nuestra Señora del Rosario, October 7
• Quebradillas: San Rafael Arcangel, October 24

November

• Aguadilla: San Carlos Borromeo, November 4

December

• Vega Alta: La Inmaculada Concepción de María, December 8
• Vieques [20]: La Inmaculada Concepción de María, December 8
• Ponce [21]: Nuestra Señora de la Guadalupe, December 12

The most elaborate and renowned Fiestas Patronales take place in San Juan [10] and Loíza [5], but all of the municipalities’ celebrations honoring their patron saints offer visitors a unique opportunity to get a concentrated dose of local culture. The following is a list of some of the island’s Fiestas Patronales.