Catholicism is the main religion in Costa Rica and this is reflected in all
the different festivals that are held year-round across Costa Rica. There are so many
festivals in Costa Rica that no matter when you come here, there will almost certainly be a festival going on at that
moment. These festivals are a great opportunity to make new friends and
learn the local traditions. We have listed the biggest, most important
festivals for you:
January
New Year’s day – Zapote, San Jose
Fireworks light up the city of San Jose. There are street parties with music, dancing and food in Zapote, downtown San Jose.
Palmares Fiestas – Palmares
First two weeks of January. Two weeks of concerts, dancing, bullfighting, carnival and local food.
Santa Cruz Fiestas, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste
This religious festival takes also place in the week of January
15th, for the same reason as the Alajuelita fiestas. A festival
featuring folk dance, marimba music and bullfights.
Copa del Café – San Jose
The Copa Del Café is a week long tennis tournament Mid-January hosted at the Costa Rica country Club.
February
Fiesta de los Diablitos – Rey Curre, Boruca
In late February. A reenactment of the rights between the Spanish and
the Indigenous take place. The indigenous are represented by the Diablitos (devils) and the Spanish by a bull.
Puntarenas Carnival – Puntarenas
A week long celebration with music, dancing, exhibitions, food and beer.
March
Bonanza cattle show – San Jose
In the first week of march, there is a cattle show with bullfights, rodeos and horse races.
Dia de los Boyeros – San Antonio de Escazu
The second Sunday of March is Dia de los Boyeros in San Antonio de
Escazu. A colorful celebration with traditional parades of oxcarts and
blessings of the animals by local priests.
National orchid show – San Jose
Mid-March is the national orchid show in San Jose, featuring over
300 species of orchids. This weekend-long annual show attracts growers
worldwide.
April
Semana Santa (holy week) – country wide
Huge processions in all parts of the country are held during Easter week. Costa
Ricans take their Holy Week seriously, but not always religiously. All
hotels are booked and most Costa Ricans go to the beach with their
families.
Juan Santamaria Day – country wide
The 11th of
April is Juan Santamaria day. Parades, music and dancing to honor the
nation’s hero, Juan Santamaria, who helped Costa Rica defeat William
Walker and the invading Filibusters.
May
Día de los Trabajadores – country wide
May 1st is Labor Day. Parades, marches and the Presidential “state of union” address to congress and the people.
June
Dia de San Pedro y San Pablo – Country wide
June 29th is Dia San Pedro y San Pablo. A Religious celebration to
honor the Catholic saints Paul and Peter with processions and masses.
July
Fiesta de La Virgen del Mar – Puntarenas
On the Saturday closest to July 16th. This fiesta of the virgin of
the sea takes place in Puntarenas. This day is celebrated with a
procession of decorated fishing boats carrying a statue of La virgin
del Monte Carmelo.
Dia de Guanacaste – country wide
July 25th is the day when Costa Rica celebrates Guanacaste day.
They celebrate the annexation of Guanacaste from Nicaragua in 1824.
This day is celebrated with fiestas, folk dances, topes, cattle shows,
bullfights and concerts.
August
Virgen de los Angeles – country wide
August 2nd the largest religious holiday takes place in Costa Rica.
On this day Costa Rica honors the patron saint of Costa Rica, La
Negrita. Pilgrims come form all over the country, many on foot, to
celebrate the mass in La Basilica de los Angeles in Cartago.
Día de la Madre – country wide
Mother’s day is a national bank, school and business holiday in Costa Rica.
September
Dia de La Independencia – country wide
September 15th is Independence Day. On this day in 1821 Costa Rica
and the rest of Central America gained independence from Spain. The
nationwide celebration starts with parades, traditional dancers and
street parties. The day ends with the delivery of the Freedom Torch
that’s brought from Nicaragua to Cartago. This is when everyone in the
country stops and simultaneously sings the national anthem.
October
San Isidro del General – San Isidro, San Jose
On October 9th the celebration of the anniversary of San Isidro’s
founding takes place is San Isidro, San Jose. This anniversary is
celebrated with street fairs, fiestas, dancing and sporting events.
Dia de la Raza – Limon
This celebration of Columbus' arrival in the new world starts on
the twelfth of October (Columbus day). It is celebrated with week
long street dances, parades, and popular carnivals with loud Caribbean
rhythms, rum and dancing.
November
Dia de los Difuntos – Country wide
November 2nd is All Soul’s Day in Costa Rica. Day of the dead has people paying their respect to lost loved ones.
Coffee picking contest – Central Valey
In mid-November local communities in the Central Valley have coffee picking contests, accompanied with music and dancing.
El Desfile de Carretas – San Jose
In late November one of the largest parades of Oxcart drivers takes
place in San Jose. This celebration honors Costa Rica’s oxcart and
agricultural traditions.
December
Festival de la Luz – San Jose
The first week of December is a week long festival with lights,
lights and lights. Fireworks, lightning displays and live concerts are
some of the ways this week is celebrated.
Fiesta de los Negritos – Boruca
In the week of December 8th,
La fiesta de Los Negritos is held in the Indian village of Boruca. This
fiesta is a festive combination of traditional indigenous celebrations
and catholic rituals.
Fiesta de la Yeguita – Nicoya
December 12th. Parades, bullfights, fireworks, concerts, dancing and food to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe.
El Tope – San Jose
December 26th a horse parade is held in downtown San Jose. The famous horse parade strolls through the center of San Jose.
San Jose Carnival – San Jose
December 27th a carnival in San Jose with floats, music and a big parade.
As you can see there are a lot of Festivals and Carnivals in
Costa Rica and there are a lot more. For a complete list with all the
festivals and other events you can click here.