San Jose Events, Things to Do and Festivals

(San Jose, Costa Rica)

As a primarily Catholic nation it is no surprise that San Jose's events calendar largely revolves around Christian festivals, with Christmas and Holy Week being annual highlights. Also not to be missed is the yearly pilgrimage to the Nuestra Senora de los Angeles Basilica in Cartago on the Virgen de los Angeles Day each August.

There are also plenty of non-religious things to do in San Jose, including historically significant festivals remembering important events in the past and lively cattle shows. Among the city's most well-attended cattle events are the San Isidro del General Fiestas and the Cattle Show.

San Jose Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day - January 1st, this day sees locals celebrate the arrival of the new year with family gatherings and festivities
• Copa del Café - the Costa Rican Country Club in San Jose come to life for this week-long tennis competition

February

• San Isidro del General Fiestas - early February sees the city spring to life during this agricultural event. Cattle exhibits, industrial fairs, flower shows and bullfights are among the highlights of this fiesta

March

• San Jose Day - an important day in the capital city that is also enjoyed all over the country
• Cattle Show - the city's annual cattle show is held each March and draws visitors from far and wide, with fast-paced horse racing, bullfights and rodeos

April

• Battle of Rivas Day - early April sees Costa Ricans across the country remember the 1856 Battle of Rivas. In this battle, Costa Ricans fought against William Walker and his Nicaraguan forces
• Holy Week - San Jose's churches see services held to commemorate Jesus' death and resurrection over the Easter period. Visitors can expect businesses to be closed from Easter Thursday to Easter Sunday

May

• Labour Day (Dia de los Trabajadores) - May 1st, this national public holiday sees San Jose locals relax and unwind

June

• Saints Peter and Paul Day - held in late June, this religious celebration sees Christians attend San Jose's churches for services honouring the saints

July

• Guanacaste Day - July 25th, commemorating the annexation of the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste in 1824 from Nicaragua, this day sees locals celebrate this victory

August

• Virgen de los Angeles Day - August 2nd, the patron saint of Costa Rica is honoured with religious pilgrimages from the capital to the Nuestra Senora de los Angeles Basilica in Cartago
• Mother's Day - August 15th, local mothers are rewarded by their kids with small gifts and flowers on this day dedicated especially to mothers

September

• Independence Day - September 15th, the biggest celebrations in the country are held right in San Jose on this important day which remembers Costa Rica's independence from Spain in 1821

October

• Meeting of the Cultures Day - commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492, this lively day also remembers the native's resistance to the Europeans

November

• International Arts Festival - the capital is host to this fun arts festival which sees performing arts, such as plays and street theatre, presented across the city

December

• Christmas Day - the Christian population of San Jose gather together to celebrate this occasion with feasts, carol-singing, present-giving, nativity scenes and the decorating of trees
• Carnival - just two days after Christmas is this elaborate carnival in downtown San Jose. Expect ornate floats, music and plenty of revellers