Cubans don’t kid around when it comes to throwing a great party. Live music, wonderfully hectic parades, costumes – the festivals in Cuba have it all. It’s an experience not to be missed & we thought it might be a good idea to give you a glimpse into some of the best ones.
Keep reading to get a lowdown on the best festivals in Cuba.
What makes the festivals in Cuba so special?
Throughout the years, Cuba’s infectious Joie de vivre has never faded & the festivals in Cuba do a maddeningly good job at showcasing why! These celebrations are full of life; it lets you truly understand the rhythm of the country and help you better understand its culture. This is why we think it’s an itinerary essential.
Triumph of the Revolution and Victory Day
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? January 1-2
We’re starting off our line-up of the best festivals in Cuba with the first event of the year. the Triumph of the Revolution and Victory Day marks the anniversary of the victory led by Fidel Castro in 1959. This was the beginning of the current government present in Cuba today. Also known as Liberation Day, this holiday is celebrated with fireworks, parades, and concerts throughout Cuba.
Havana International Jazz Festival
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? January 18 – 23
Calling all Jazz fanatics! The Havana International Jazz Festival began in 1978 and has since been deemed as one of the most famous festivals in Cuba. Since its start, the festival has seen performances from Dizzy Gillespie, Ted Nash, Max Roach and several other incredible artists. So, if you’re looking to experience the wonders of traditional jazz and the more seductive afro-Cuban jazz, this is where you should be!
José Martí’s birthday
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? January 28
Thanks to his political activism, poetry, and journalism, José Martí became a national hero, known as the “Apostle of Cuban Independence” from the Spanish influence. The well-travelled philosopher, essayist, and publisher raised awareness for the cause for Cuban independence and became a central figure in the fight for it. His birthday is celebrated with marches and processions organised by youth groups or the Cuban Federation of University Students.
It might not be one of the biggest festivals in Cuba, but it definitely is important!
Havana Cigar Festival
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? February 18 -25
Festivals in Cuba have always celebrated the country’s culture, and you can’t talk about Cuban culture without paying attention to its universally iconic cigar. This celebration is the most famous event dedicated to premium cigars in the world & welcomes over 1,000 guests from 80 different countries. Those who attend the festival are among the first to sample the newest Cuban cigars. Still need a reason to visit?
Labour Day
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? May 1
In Cuba, May Day, or Labour Day, is celebrated with huge celebrations. Each year, around a million people attend the May Day parade in Havana. It’s another event that goes in line with being one of the more important festivals in Cuba.
Trinidad Festival
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? June 24
Say hello to one of the most colourful festivals in Cuba! Also known as Fiestas San Juaneras, Trinidad’s colourful festival promotes local culture with parades, vibrant costumes, street-wide dancing, and equestrian displays by local guajiros. The annual celebrations last several days around the 24th of June and are Spanish in origin.
Carnival in Santiago de Cuba
➤ When is this Cuban festival? End of July
With an abundance of music, dancing, and colours, the Carnival in Santiago de Cuba is the most famous festivals in Cuba. Roman Catholic societies celebrate Carnival before the beginning of Lent, typically at the end of February or March. However, Cuba celebrates their Carnival at the end of July. This is thought to be due to older summer festivals, called the Mamarrachos, which evolved into the Carnival celebration in Cuba today.
Santiago is the second-largest city in Cuba and is also the most diverse, with Chinese, African, Indigenous, Spanish, and French-Haitian groups. This melting pot of cultures means that the Carnival in Santiago is incredibly vibrant, with music and dance showcased in many ways. The most popular instrument of the festival is the conga, but you will hear many diverse instruments and performances during its celebration.
One of the main elements of this Cuban festival are the “comparsas,” or street performances comprised of musical groups and dancers. Food stands, tasty drinks, and intoxicating beats make the Carnival in Santiago de Cuba an unforgettable experience.
Virgen de Cobre Feast Day
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? September 8
Representing salvation and hope during difficult times, the Virgin is one of Cuba’s most iconic figures. Legend has it that the Virgin rescued two brothers and their slave when they were trapped on a boat during a tropical storm in the 1600s. While this is a Catholic Cuban legend, practitioners of other religions also sometimes participate in this feast.
The Virgin, also known as La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, or Our Lady of Charity, is the patron saint of Cuba. Every year, on September 8th, thousands of Cubans journey to the image representing La Cachita (the nickname for “Our Lady of Charity”). Those who visit this clay image, located in the village of El Cobre, offer her yellow flowers and copper.
Independence Day
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? October 10
Cuba’s Independence Day is one of the best festivals in Cuba! It celebrates the bravery, freedom and resilience showcased in the fight for Independence, which started in 1868 with the “Cry of Yara”. This Cuban festival is celebrated nationwide with parades and gatherings with friends and family.
Las Parrandas de Remedios
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? December 16-24
Las Parrandas is perhaps one of the oldest festivals in Cuba. Dating back to 1820, Las Parrandas began when a priest noticed lower attendance at mass from mid-December until Christmas day. He told the local children to go into the street with rattles, horns, and noisemakers to attract parishioners. The tradition evolved in the years following this as bands began to compete in the streets to earn the best performance.
Today, Las Parrandas isn’t just a noisemaking event or music festival. In addition to music, you can find dancing, parades, and an abundance of light. From lanterns to fireworks, the light displays of Las Parrandas are top-notch. Every neighbourhood in Remedios, the festival’s home, competes for the best light show. While the climax of Las Parrandas is on December 24th, the festival runs from December 16th to December 26th.
Christmas Day
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? December 25
You can’t really get sick of spending Christmas with your family, but if you’re looking for a change of pace – we would suggest visiting Cuba. While Christmas was not an official holiday in Cuba from 1969-1998, it was reinstated after a visit from Pope John Paul II. However, it is considered to be one of the more muted festivals in Cuba.
Eve of the Revoln
➤ When is this Cuban festival celebrated? December 31
The night before Triumph of the Revolution, Eve of the Revolution is another Cuban festival that celebrates Castro’s revolution. Because this day falls on New Year’s Eve, this dual holiday makes for a lively evening. In Cuba, this holiday is more widely celebrated than Christmas.
Cubans go all out for this night; roasting meat, drinking traditional liquors, and dancing are just a few ways that they celebrate Eve of the Revolution. Cubans also have other bizarre New Year’s Eve traditions, like throwing a bucket of dirty water out the window. This water represents the negative energy of the previous year and throwing it out the window is a symbol of release. Another fascinating December 31st Cuban tradition is burning dolls at midnight, which symbolises the destruction of negative energy to prepare for the new year.
There you have it! A complete list of the best festivals in Cuba. If you’re interested in seeing these celebrations come to life, you can always schedule a consultation call with one of our Cuba specialists.
You can also contact us for more information on these festivals!
0207 071 3636
