Costa Rica Events Calender

Costa Rica Events - Costa Rica is anything you want it to be: a non-stop party, or a quiet, natural escape. It all depends where you go, where you stay and what you're looking for in Costa Rica.

Catholicism is the main religious denomination in Costa Rica and it reflects in the celebrations. All year long typical "fiestas" take place in Costa Rica. Whether celebrating a Patron Saint's day or a national holiday, these fiestas generally feature lots of good food, music, rides, "topes" (horse parades), and Tico-style bullfights (the bull is teased, but not harmed).

While traveling in Costa Rica always feels like a celebration, these Costa Rica events are the country's official parties

January Costa Rica Events

The Copa del Cafe (Coffee Bowl) is and has been one of the best junior tennis tournaments in the world. Matches for this international event on the junior tennis tour are held at the Costa Rica Country Club. First week in January.

Fiesta de Palmares

Palmares is probably the best traditional Costa Rica fiesta; it is also perhaps the largest and highly organized, which includes bullfights, a horse parade (tope), and many concerts, carnival rides, and food booths. First 2 weeks in January.

Fiesta de Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. This religious celebration honours the Black Christ of Esquipulas (a famous Guatemalan statue), featuring folk dancing, marimba music, and bullfights. Mid-January.

Fiesta de los Diablitos

This symbolic celebration is of a post-colonial origin, it represents the tireless struggle between the Spanish and the natives.

This festivity is a re-enactment of a fight between native American Indians (the devils) and the Spaniard (the bull). Using masks, wearing wooden clothing, dancing and fireworks entertain this show. There is art dealing and selling of national products as well as imported goods. Late January

March Costa Rica Events

Dia del Boyero (Oxcart Drivers' Day).

Dia del Boyero is celebrated on the second Sunday of March in the nearby town of San Antonio de Escaz. Children are dressed in traditional costume for a parade on the colorful oxcarts from the center of Escaz to the Church of San Antonio. Carts are a national symbol in Costa Rica and most of them are handpainted for this festival. Locals and visitors enjoy typical music and food throughout the day. Second Sunday in March.

National Orchid Show

The orchid is the national flower of Costa Rica and no wonder why: the country has more than 1,200 identified species, the richest orchid flora in Central America and one of the most numerous in the world.

Orchid growers throughout the world gather to show their wares, trade tales and secrets, and admire the hundreds of species on display. Mid-March

April Costa Rica Events

Holy Week.

Religious processions are held in cities and towns throughout the country. Week before Easter.

Juan Santamaria Day

Does Juan Santamaria sound familiar? He had the national airport named after him so if you flew into San Jose you’ve probably already heard the name. Juan Santamaria is one of Costa Rica’s national heroes, every April 11 the country pauses to commemorate his death. The legend has it that a barefooted 19-year old Juan Santamaria fought for his country in 1856 in a battle against William Walker and his army of mercenaries.

The day of Juan Santamaria’s death is a national holiday and the days leading up to it are celebrated throughout the country with marching bands, parades, concerts, and dances. The festivities are widespread but take place especially in the city of Alajuela. April 11.

May Costa Rica Events

Carrera de San Juan.

The country's biggest marathon runs through the mountains, from the outskirts of Cartago to the outskirts of San Jose. May 17.

July Costa Rica Events

Fiesta of the Virgin of the Sea

This celebration is very popular in Costa Rica. It was first held in 1913, consists of a colourful regatta of decorated fishing boats and yachts in the Nicoya Gulf to salute Puntarenas’ Patron Saint, the Virgin of Mount Carmel. Fishing boats and yachts are decorated with lights and flags and sail around the harbour. Thousands of locals flock to the harbour to celebrate and witness the blessing of commercial fishing boats by the local priest.

Special masses, concerts, parades, sports, dances events and fireworks are all enacted in her honour. As with most Central American parties, food and drink are plentiful so come on an empty stomach and fill up on local delicacies like casado (rice, beans, stewed beef, fried plantain, salad and cabbage), olla de carne (soup of beef, plantain, and more…Saturday closest to July 16.

Annexation of Guanacaste Day

Guanacaste was originally a separate province in Spain's Central American Empire. Spain gave the region to Nicaragua in 1787, but in 1812 granted the land to Costa Rica so that Costa Rica would be large enough to be represented in the new colonial government, which ruled from Guatemala. After independence from Spain in 1821, both Costa Rica and Nicaragua claimed Guanacaste. Inhabitants of the region remained divided as well. The issue was finally put to vote, and the Guanacastecos favouring Costa Rica won. Guanacaste Day is observed all over the country, Tico-style bullfights, folk dancing, horseback parades, rodeos, concerts, and other events take place on the day. July 25.

August Costa Rica Events

Fiesta of the Virgin of Los Angeles

This is the annual pilgrimage day of the patron saint of Costa Rica. Many people walk from San Jose 24km (15 miles) to the basilica in Cartago. August 2.

Dia de San Ramon

San Ramon. More than two dozen statues of saints from various towns are brought to San Ramon, where they are paraded through the streets. August 31.

September Costa Rica Events

Costa Rica's Independence Day

Costa Rica’s Independence Day is celebrated on 15th September which commemorates independence of the entire Central America from Spanish rule in 1821. The news of the declaration of independence of Costa Rica had reached the people of the nation only a month later.

Following the independence of Costa Rica, the first constitution of the country was soon adopted. This further led to the celebration of the first elections in Costa Rica held in December, 1821. Costa Rica’s Independence Day is declared an official national holiday in Costa Rica. Most distinctive are the nighttime’s parades of children. September 15.

October Costa Rica Events

Fiesta del Maiz

At this celebration of corn, local beauty queens wear outfits made from corn plants. October 12.

Limon Carnival / Dia de la Raza

Costa Ricans on this day (and most Latin Americans) celebrate Columbus (Colon in Spanish), his "discovery" of the Americas, and the Hispanic influence on local culture, hence "Dia de la Raza". The city of Limon, on the coast, celebrates Carnival during the week preceding the 12th, so if you're looking for a better party, go to the beach. In San Jose, things are more subdued, but almost everyone has the day off, and processions and celebrations (and perhaps protests) are numerous. Check local listings for specifics functions. Week of October 12

November Costa Rica Events

All Soul's Day/Dia de los Muertos

The "Day of the Dead" (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and by Latin Americans living in the United States and Canada. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died.

Although it is not as elaborate or ritualized as in Mexico, most Costa Ricans take some time this day to remember the dead with flowers and trips to the cemeteries. November 2

December Costa Rica Events

Dia de la Polvora

San Antonio de Belen and Jesus Maria de San Mateo. Fireworks honor Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. December 8

Fiesta de los Negritos

Held in the Indian village of Boruca, and ancient Indian ritual is combined with honouring the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception - extravagant costumes, music of drum and flute, dance. December 8

Fiesta de la Yeguita

As Nicoya’s most famous legend, “la yeguita” festivals are an exciting event in this colonial city. They involve religious and civic parades; mass at the Catholic Church; traditional foods in the ‘Casa de la virgen’ known as the “Cofradia;” arts and crafts, and more. Held in Nicoya. December 12

Las Posadas

For Costa Ricans or "Ticos", Christmas is all about the coming of Baby Jesus. A typical Christmas tradition to commemorate his birth is “Las Posadas”. Las Posadas have been celebrated since the time of colonization, when Christmas was a purely religious holiday. The Spanish brought the practice from the old world, and like many other countries in Latin America, Costa Rica continue to carry on the tradition.

Las Posadas, meaning “places to stay”, are dramatic re-enactments of the pilgrimage of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph travelling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Countrywide, children and carollers go door to door seeking lodging in a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay. Begins December 15

El Tope and Carnival

San Jose. The streets of downtown belong to horses and their riders in a proud recognition of the country's important agricultural heritage. The next day, those same streets are taken over by carnival floats, marching bands, and street dancers. December 26 and 27

Traditional celebrations for the holidays are the “Fiestas de San Jose” or “Festejos Populares” – the popular festivities of San Jose. They celebrate the end of the year that has passed and the New Year to come. These festivities take place in San Jose and are famous throughout Costa Rica. Ticos look forward to this time to party and have fun. The main events of the Festejos Populares are “las corridas de toros” – bullfights, which are now commonly called “Toros a la Tica” (bullfighting the Tico way) and the “Tope Nacional” Horse Parade through San Jose. Last week of December

Official holidays in Costa Rica include:

January 1 (New Year's Day), March 19 (St. Joseph's Day), Holy Thursday and Good Friday during Holy Week, April 11 (Juan Santamaria's Day), May 1 (Labor Day), July 25 (annexation of the province of Guanacaste), August 2 (Virgin of Los Angeles's Day), August 15 (Mother's Day), September 15 (Independence Day), October 12 (Discovery of America/Encuentro de Culturas), December 8 (Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary), December 24 and 25 (Christmas), and December 31 (New Year's Eve).

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