Upcoming Events
July 28 - August 28, 2019
Virgin of Los Angeles Day
Costa Rica’s largest religious holiday – pilgrims march on foot or on their knees from around Costa Rica toward Cartago’s Los Angeles Basilica to pay honor to La Negrita, Costa Rica’s black ...
Mother's Day
National day to honor the nation's mothers. This is an official, required holiday from work.
University Week
Exhibits, parades, live music and more at the University of Costa Rica.
San Ramon Patron Saint Day
Parades, dancing and music help celebrate the arrival of 30 patron saints of nearby towns, come to honor San Ramon’s own patron saint.
Costa Rica Independence Day
National holiday celebrating Costa Rica's independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Patriotic Costa Ricans gather to sing the national anthem and light traditional candle lanterns. In Cartago, the ...
International Beach Clean-Up Day
During the month of September, businesses and residents will help clean up Costa Rica’s beaches, oceans and rivers. Communities around the country pitch in to help keep Costa Rica free of litter and trash.
San Isidro Anniversary
All day festivities to commemorate the founding of this important agricultural town, San Isidro del General.
Puerto Viejo Carnival
Seven days of Caribbean parties, complete with dancers, parades, live music and Mardi Gras-style decadence.
Virgin of Pilar Day
Colorful fair in Tres Rios celebrating their Patron Saint with costumes made entirely from corn husks and silks, a parade and music.
Columbus Day
Known as Dia de la Raza in Costa Rica, this day celebrates Columbus’ discovery of the New World, and the many cultural influences that helped form modern-day Latin America.
All Soul's Day
Costa Rica’s version of Mexico’s famous Day of the Dead has people paying their respects to lost loved ones.
Coffee Picking Contest
Music and dancing to accompany this Central Valley coffee-picking contest.
Oxcart Parade
This San Jose parade honors Costa Rica’s oxcart and driver and the country's agricultural traditions. Hundreds of colorful ox-drawn carts begin in La Sabana Park and continue along Paseo Colon and Avenida ...
Fireworks Day
Also known as Gunpowder Day, this annual celebration honors the Lady of the Immaculate Conception with fireworks. Though this is technically a religious holiday, celebrations are largely secular. San Antonio de Belen ...
La Yeguita Fiesta
A parade to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe. Celebrations include dancing, food and fireworks.
Christmas Eve
Traditionally, families attend a large mass on Christmas Eve and eat their holiday dinner at midnight. Presents are usually opened on December 24th.
Christmas Day
Christmas day in Costa Rica! Traditionally, families attend a large mass on Christmas Eve and eat their holiday dinner at midnight. Presents are usually opened on December 24th.
Zapote Fiestas
The Zapote Fairgrounds transform from tranquil farmers' market to a free-for-all party, offering amusement park rides, fair and street food, inflatable megabars, bullfighting and plenty of libations.
National Horse Parade
Known as El Tope Nacional, this famous horse parade strolls through the center of San Jose, and the well-trained animals perform amazing footwork.
San Jose Carnival
A huge carnival with large floats, live music and a very happy atmosphere.
Palmares Fiestas
Each year, the Palmares fiestas begin the second week of January and continue through the month with a series of events. These include concerts, fireworks, sports activities, tents with alcohol and food, Costa Rican-...
Upala Corn Festival
The Fiestas de Maiz are an annual event in Upala; festivities center around the corn crop and include the crowing of a Corn Queen and a corn-product costume parade.