Antigua Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Antigua, Central Highlands, Guatemala)

As with much of the rest of Guatemala and Central America at large, Antigua's festivals mostly have religious overtones. Whilst there are no real international events here, there are, however, plenty of things to do most months.

Holy Week in Antigua is one of the most celebrated times in the city. The Easter celebrations of Semana Santa last for many days in late March or April, with various processions, vigils (velaciones) and carpets (alfombras) of flower petals. Labour Day, Army Day and Independence Day are very much enjoyed in Antigua, too, while Guatemala Christmas Week is always lots of fun.

Antigua Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day (Ano Nuevo) - January 1st, Antigua sees some of the most boisterous celebrations in Guatemala on New Year's Eve, with fireworks and a great deal of merriment, followed by this national holiday
• Pilgrimage of the Black Christ - celebrated off in the north-west of the country, in Esquipulas, this pilgrimage is a very important Catholic event

February

• Coffee Harvest Celebration - early February, a two-day event in nearby Fraijanes based around the Virgen de Candelaria. This harvest party includes lots of eating, music and dancing

March

• Holy Week (Semana Santa) - March / April, featuring huge celebrations, not unlike those in Seville or Granada (Spain), where the streets are loaded with floats and colour. The principal religious festivities are focused around Holy Wednesday and Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday

April

• Secretary's Day - April 26th, this day pays tribute to all of the country's administrative staff through both various activities and celebrations. Bosses are often known to give small gifts to their secretaries

May

• Labour Day - 1st May, the Dia del Trabajo is best enjoyed in Guatemala City, although there are also parties and parades galore around Antigua

June

• Army Day - June 30th, the Dia del Ejército marks the efforts of the Army of Guatemala, while commemorating the feat of General Miguel Garcia Granados in 1871 upon his foray into Guatemala City

July

• Burning the Devil - a religious event with overtones of the Dia de San Juan in Europe, where folks erect little houses of reeds all around Guatemala

August

• Day of the Assumption - August 15th, the Dia de la Asuncion is a huge day in Guatemala, and especially in Joyabaj, with all sorts of weird and wonderful activities, including men doing acrobats with poles

September

• Independence Day - September 15th, the Dia de la Independencia goes off in style in the middle of September each year, celebrating Guatemala's split from Spain in 1821

October

• Revolution Day - October 20th, the Conmemoración de la Revolución de 1944 features music, dance, and fireworks near the Parque Central (Plaza Mayor)
• Columbus Day - celebrating the exploits of master navigator Christopher Columbus, this is a public holiday in most parts of Latin America

November

• All Saints' Day (Dia de Todos los Santos) - November 1st, a national religious holiday
• Day of the Dead - early November, the Dia de Los Muertos takes place all over the country with music and dancing, plus drunken horse racing of all things

December

• Guatemala Christmas Week (Navidad) - mid- to late December, this fun week blends Catholic traditions and differing cultures, with colourful Yuletide processions over many days leading up to Christmas Day