Arequipa Events and Festivals

(Arequipa, Peru)

Arequipenos enjoy a very full calendar of seasonal events, and tourists coming to Arequipa are advised to visit at the time of a popular festival. Such events and things to do include Arequipa's Holy Week (Semana Santa), Corpus Christi, Peru National Independence Days celebrations, and various carnival parades.

Particularly special in Arequipa is the Founding Day of the city, a major festival which takes place annually in mid-August and includes colourful processions, Peruvian music and dancing, beauty pageants, and even sporting events, such as a climbing competition, up the El Misti Volcano. The night before, the skies above the Plaza de Armas are filled with a spectacular fireworks display, which is definitely worth watching. Alternatively, football fans should look out for the soccer games staged at Arequipa's esteemed Estadio Monumental de la UNSA, which is amongst the biggest stadiums in the whole of Peru.

Arequipa Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015: General Information

The city's most popular yearly events are listed below.

• Festival de la Sor de Los Angeles y Monteagudo - mid-January, honouring the patron saint of Arequipa's Santa Catalina monastery
• Carnaval Arequipeno - late February, when the carnival queen of Arequipa is chosen, and friendly water fights often occur
• Fiesta de la Santisima Trinidad (Festival of the Holy Trinity) - mid-May, starting with early morning mass and followed by street markets, live entertainment, dancing events, 'castle burning' (quema de castillos) and fireworks
• Semana Santa (Holy Week) - Easter celebrations and festivals in late March or early April, with statues of Judas torched in different areas of Arequipa, along with plenty of religious festivities
• Pilgrimages - May 1st, holy Catholic pilgrimages see crowds trekking to the Santuario de la Virgen de Chapi (Sanctuary of the Virgin of Chapi), which lies some 40 km / 25 miles to the south of Arequipa. Expect to find lots of local delicacies, such as fried pork rind (chicharron)
• Fiesta de la Virgen de Chapi - May 1st, the Yanahuara district of Arequipa soon fills up on this day, with crowds arriving to enjoy this important festival
• Festival de Musica - mid-June, a leading musical and theatrical event staged at the Alianza Francesa
• Dia del Characato - late June, with bullfighting and other traditional events in the Characato districts
• National Independence Days - July 28th / 29th, a national event throughout Peru
• Anniversary of the Founding of Arequipa (Founding Day) - mid-August, lasting around two weeks and remembering the date of August 15th, 1538, the day when the city was officially established
• Feast of Santa Rosa de Lima - August 30th, honouring the patron saint of both Lima and the Americas
• Peruvian Mining Convention and Expo (EXTEMIN) - mid-September, a yearly event held each year in Arequipa, showcasing the very latest advances in mining technology
• La Virgen del Rosario - early October, with various events centred around Arequipa's Yanahuara, Yarabamba and Yura neighbourhoods
• All Saints Day - November 1st, a national festival throughout Peru