San Juan, Puerto Rico City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's San Juan, Puerto Rico Travel Guide has been your connection to San Juan's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Events
 Festivals are a vital part of any culture, providing insight to the area, region, or country, you are visiting as few other activities will. Festivals comprise a wide range of activities and events that all fall under that one very name. From religious celebrations for patron saints, carnivals, topes and/or fiestas to artistic and international musical events, San Juan hosts plenty of excitement to engage your every enjoyment.
With January comes the annual season of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra begins with classical and pop performances by the island's finest orchestra. In late January, the annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián (San Sebastián Street Festival), named after the street in Old San Juan where the festival originated, features several nights of live music in the plazas as well as food festivals and cabezudos parades, where folk legends are caricatured in oversize masks.
Each year in late January and into February, the Puerto Rico film industry picks talent to honor in the Puerto Rico International Film Festival. International stars such as Benicio Del Toro and Chita Rivera are testaments to the power of Puerto Rican influence in the arts. Know too that the San Juan film festival showcases island-made films and works from around the world.
June is another great month for festivities. The annual Heineken JazzFest attracts some 15,000 aficionados to San Juan for four days of outdoor concerts performed by such talents as David Sánchez, George Benson, Nestor Torres, and Spyro Gyra. The annual Casals Festival in San Juan honors the late, great cellist Pablo Casals, who lived in Old San Juan. This festival is comprised of 10 days of classical music performances featuring the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra as well as soloists from the island and around the world. Originating as part of a Catholic tradition, and perhaps one of the most notorious celebrations, every year, each town participates in the celebration of Patron Saints Festivals (Fiestas Patronales) in honor of their town's patron saint. The festivities include religious processions, where elements of African and Local rite have since been fostered into the celebration. Usually held in the town square, these festivals are colorful displays of pride and joy, and feature parades, games, rides, regional food, and live entertainment. San Juan Batista is celebrated on June 24th buy San Juan, Maricao, and Orocovis.
The Festival of Puerto Rican Music, held in San Juan and other locations, celebrates the vibrancy of the island's folk music, highlighted by a contest featuring the cuatro, a traditional guitar with five double strings.
Come join at these festivals and experience the celebration. |
