Guatemala City Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015
(Guatemala City, Central Highlands, Guatemala)
Most festivals and events in Guatemala City concern religion, namely Catholicism, with Easter's Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Christmas being especially big deals. All months in the capital have something of interest occurring, when there are usually plenty of appealing things to do and see for tourists.
Major events in Guatemala City include the Burning the Devil festivities and the Independence Day parties in the summer, along with the Day of the Assumption. In October, Revolution Day and Christopher Columbus Day also make for popular celebrations in the city and always draw big crowds.
Guatemala City Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- New Year's Day (Ano Nuevo) - January 1st, a national holiday to celebrate the New Year with partying, parades, lively music and fireworks continuing over from the night before
- Pilgrimage of the Black Christ - mid-January, Esquipulas is the main centre for this huge religious event, with Christian rituals honouring the Black Christ also occurring in the city
February
- Coffee Harvest Celebration - early February, this fun two-day event mainly takes place in Fraijanes at the Virgen de Candelaria and features copious drinking of coffee, eating and music
March
- Holy Week (Semana Santa) - March / April, Easter week is a very important time in overly religious Guatemala, with the biggest celebrations being staged between Holy Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday
April
- Secretary's Day - April 26th, this event pays tribute to administrative staff through both private and public celebrations. Bosses around the city give small gifts or time off to their secretaries
May
- Labour Day - May 1st, known locally as the Dia del Trabajo, this public May Day holiday sees parades and parties around the city
June
- Army Day - late June, the Dia del Ejército commemorates the moment when General Miguel Garcia Granados rode into Guatemala City, whilst also honouring the army in general
July
- Folkloric Festival of Rabinal Ajau - head up to Coban if you care to experience the culture of the Kekchis Indians, with old dress and dance
- Burning the Devil - a major religious event in Guatemala City each July sees the building of reed houses
August
- Day of the Assumption - August 15th, churches and cathedrals get in on the Dia de la Asuncion, with dressing up in new clothes, worshipping and much feasting for everyone to enjoy
September
- Independence Day (Dia de la Independencia) - September 15th, this mid-September event celebrates the cessation of Spanish rule in Guatemala, with lots of flag waving
October
- Revolution Day - October 20th, the Plaza Mayor (Parque Central) is the place to be for the Conmemoración de la Revolución, where there is always music, dance and fireworks on this day
- Columbus Day - Christopher Columbus is remembered and his feats celebrated all over Latin America, including right here in the capital
November
- All Saints' Day (Dia de Todos los Santos) - November 1st, a religious holiday
- Day of the Dead Kite Festival - early November, a fun event linking the dead with the living by the act of flying kites over cemeteries
December
- Burning the Devil Celebrations - December 7th, locals spring clean and burn rubbish to appease evil spirits. Also features drinking, dancing and fireworks
- Guatemala Christmas Week (Navidad) - mid- to late December, sees processions and prayers leading up to Christmas Day
- New Year's Eve - December 31st, there are street parties, concerts and fireworks on the last day of the year. Festivities start on the afternoon of New Year's Eve (Vispera de Ano Nuevo) and are followed by the countdown to midnight
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