As the searing heat of summer disappears, the island of Cuba cranks up the festival and events calendar for the autumn and winter months. Look out for boleros, theatre, dance, film, fireworks and even a marathon.
This weekend sees the International Boleros de Oro Festival (October 2-5) take to several stages across Havana. This year, the festival is dedicated to the 95th birthday of Omara Portuondo who has been singing in the capital since the 1940s. She shot to further fame on the Buena Vista Social Club album and appeared in the Wim Wenders’ movie of the same name.
Swing by the National Theatre, the neon-lit Gato Tuerto, Patio Hurón Azul, Casa de la Cultura Miramar, Casa de 18, Arte Habana and Bulebar 66 to hear performers from Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina sing the romantic ballads – now declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco.
The festival will pay tribute to important figures in the genre’s history including Ernesto Lecuona, Manuel Corona, Barbarito Diez, Paulina Álvarez, Moraima Secada and Adolfo Guzmán.
Cuban Day (El Día del la Cultura Cubana) is celebrated every October 20 and marks the moment when the National Hymn La Bayamesa was sung for the first time in 1868. In Bayamo, in Cuba’s Oriente (East), townsfolk use the anniversary to hold a three-day event in the city.
The curtains go up at city theatres for Havana’s Theater Festival from November 8-16. This year the biennial event will commemorate the centenary of the birth of Cuban director and actor Raquel Revuelta Planas.
Look out for national ballet performances, too, this autumn. Giselle will be danced at the National Theatre in November. For those with other foot skills, sign up to run the Marabana, Havana’s Marathon which kicks off at 6am on November 16. (https://maratondelahabana.com/).
Love running and dancing? Stay on for Baila en Cuba held between November 16-21 which sees lovers of dance come from all over the world to dance casino and son, learn from dance masters and take part in competitions.
Come December, Havana buzzes with the International Festival of New Latin American Film. Movie theatres will open across the city from December 4-14 (https://habanafilmfestival.com/). International actors and directors fly in and attend the screenings and parties.
On Christmas Eve, hot foot it (well, plan ahead) for Las Parrandas in Remedios. It’s a 200-year celebration that sees two neighbourhoods of the colonial city, close to Cuba’s north coast in Villa Clara province, fiercely compete against each other with colourful floats, parades, giant illuminated structures and fireworks. It’s absolutely bonkers! The festival runs from December 16th but the big night is the 24th. The Parrandas are celebrated in other island towns, too, on smaller scales such as at Caibarién, Camajuaní and more than 10 other towns in central Cuba.
Don’t forget to check Havana’s excellent private venues, too, for regular live music events on rooftop terraces. Cream of the crop are Noches de Fangio at Hotel Claxon, Saudade and the Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), all in el Vedado neighbourhood, Yarini in Old Havana, and La Guarida and Malecón 663 in Centro Habana.
Love Cuba is the UK’s leading Cuba holiday specialist. Click here for more information 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.
