It’s chilly at home but the weather is perfect in Cuba’s capital. A balmy 25 to 30 degrees, glorious sunshine, plenty of icy cocktails and ice cream and a hit cultural calendar to welcome in the new year. What are you waiting for?
Expect big names and big tunes for the annual Havana Jazz Festival. The 2024 edition kicks off on January 21st through ‘til the 28th. Musicians will perform across city venues including the Mella Theatre and its gardens, the National Theatre facing Revolution Square, and popular Fábrica de Arte Cubano.
Bands from the US, Holland, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Spain and Brazil as well as Cuba feature. Don’t miss Cuban jazz musician Bobby Carcassés, Arturo O’Farrill, Cuban pianist Rolando Luna, pianist Nachito Herrera, and maestro Ernán López-Nussa. American cellist and composer Lori Goldston, who once played as a touring cellist for rock band Nirvana, will play the National Theatre on the 27th.
Timba fans are in for a treat with performances by Havana D’Primera and Formell y los Van Van. And rumba fans, too, with Muñequitos de Matanzas making an appearance, too.
Cuba’s second city – Santiago de Cuba – also grabs a bit of the spotlight with city centre venues hosting Septeto Santiaguero, Comparsa Paso Franco and trumpet player Yasek Manzano at the Heredia Theater, Iris Jazz Club, Patio de la Jutía Conga in downtown, Café-Theatre Macuba. Sala Dolores in the heart of the city will host pianist Roberto Fonseca on the 24th Find the programme here:
https://magazineampm.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0-Jazz-Plaza-2024.pdf
Dust down your shoes and head out for nights of dancing at the Festival of Salsa held in Havana from February 20-25th. The event opens at the Hotel Nacional’s huge Salon 1930 before moving to Club 500 in the Vedado district for the rest of the party. Expect huge names: Charanga Habanera, Manolin “El Médico de la Salsa”, Los Van Van, Paulito FG & Su Elite, Elito Revé y Su Charangón, Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor, Isaac Delgado, plus DJ sets each night.
Don’t miss the final after party with Alexander Abreu and Havana D’ Primera. And, don’t dally. Tickets can be bought here: https://my.weezevent.com/festival-de-la-salsa-en-cuba?fbclid=IwAR05Qh4UQtFvGLn9_38cyXuU81gwm-gz5FkSHI84vIMWygfupz4kgOzuNyc
Hot on the salsa festival’s heels is the annual cigar festival, Habanos. The 24th edition runs from February 26th to March 1st. Think smokes, new launches, lectures, pairings, contests, dinners, visits to cigar factories and plantations. This year’s festival could shed light, too, on the effects September 2022’s Hurricane Ian had on the tobacco harvest in Cuba’s prime growing region, Pinar del Río.
Amid the cigar festival dates, Habaneros celebrate the birth of journalist, poet and independence leader José Martí on January 28th. Thousands walk through the streets with torches of fire in a moving tribute to the island’s national hero. The march leads from Havana’s university down to the Fragua Martiana museum close to the Malecón. It’s here the teenage Martí was sentenced to hard labour at the San Lázaro quarries for expressing ideas of independence.
By early March, it’s time to get back into the party spirit with the Fiesta del Tambor, a rhythm and dance festival held in Havana between March 5th and March 10th. Rock up for music and dance competitions, workshops, live jazz, rumba and timba concerts, and more. Find the party at Salon Rosado de la Tropical, La Piragua, cultural centres and on the streets. The programme hasn’t yet been released. Keep your eyes on https://fiestadeltamborcuba.com/for the low down and tickets.
And don’t forget the city’s leading restaurants and hotels provide exciting programming year round in addition to state venues such as Casa de la Música and the Salon Rojo at the Hotel NH Capri in Vedado. Check out Malecón 663 with its ocean views from the rooftop terrace, hopping Yarini in Old Havana, La Guarida’s rooftop terrace and the popular roof terrace at Hotel Claxon which hosts Ernán Lopez-Nussa each Tuesday night. Ready to experience Havana like never before? Love Cuba is the UK’s leading Cuba holiday specialist. Click here for more info on Cuba holidays, Multi Centre Cuba Holidays or Tailor Made Cuba Holidays – please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team of Cuba holiday specialists on 0207 071 3636 or email enquiries@lovecuba.com, today
