Piura Events and Festivals

(Piura, Peru)

There are some very special festivals and local events staged throughout the year in Piura, many of which are likely to coincide with a holiday in this part of Peru. National celebrations don't come much larger and more impressive in Piura than the city's Easter events, particularly those during Holy Week (Semana Santa) in late March / early April, which are followed by Corpus Christi celebrations on the ninth Thursday after Easter.

Other Peruvian festivals of note held annually in Piura include the Fiestas Patrias (National Independence Days), which takes place nationwide on July 28th and July 29th. Also popular is the Fiesta de la Purisima Concepción (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), a national holiday on December 8th, celebrated with a series of religious processions, honouring the Virgin Mary.

Piura National Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015: General Information

Some of the biggest events, festivals and things to do include Piura's very famous pilgrimages. Each September, enormous numbers of pilgrims arrive at the Basilica de La Merced Church as part of the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes Festivity, while in October, the statue of Senor Cautivo is cause for much attention.

Thousands of pilgrims from all over northern Peru, Colombia and Ecuador trek as far as 2,500 km / 1,553 miles to Piura as part of the Senor Cautivo de Ayabaca festivities, to adore and worship this carved image of Jesus, over a three week period. The Jubilee Week of Piura is another yearly event and features markets, live entertainment and plenty of fireworks.

A further Senor Cautivo festival is held in Piura at the beginning of January and is always well supported. Also in January is the International Reyes Fair, which is well known for its Peruvian / Ecuadorian fair and friendly atmosphere.