Web-Carazo

Events and Fiestas

Each community’s annual fiestas patronales revolve around the local saint’s birthday, but the actual party may extend days or even weeks before and after. This guide should help you catch (or avoid) fiestas patronales as you travel; the events are associated with special masses, processions, alcohol, dancing, carnivals, show horses, contests.

  • 1: New Year’s Day
  • 5-9: Caballo Español Pura Sangre Fair, Granada – An international event where owners showcase their best and most beautiful breed of horses for an ultimate prize.  The exhibition of this Spanish breed, named “Caballo Pura Sangre,” will take place in Granada’s jockey club.
  • 5-18: Dariana Day, Matagalpa – Activities take place in Matagalpa for 15 days to pay homage to Ruben Dario. Every day involves a different activity such as recitals, book presentations, poems, and more. Floats pass through the streets and a Dariana muse is selected. Different cultural groups perform, and international and regional poetry competitions take place.
  • 15-21: Rio San Juan Carnival, San Carlos, Rio San Juan – Some of the most popular activities at this carnival include the aquatic float parade and local artisans. More than 17,000 people participate in this event.
  • 15-21: International Dariana Poetry Symposium, León – Exhibitors, poets, and intellectuals from all parts of the world congregate at this symposium, where fans of Ruben Darío study his work.
  • 18: Fiestas Patronales, El Sauce
    • Third Sunday: Señor de Esquipulas, El Sauce (León)
    • Third weekend: Viva León Festival, León
    • Third weekend: San Sebastían, Acoyapa (Chon-tales), Diriamba, Carazo (San Sebastián)
    • Last weekend: La Virgen de Candelaria, La Trinidad (Estelí)
  • Second weekend: Music and Youth Festival, Managua.

The Granada Cathedral (Cathedral of the Incarnation) is the most noticable landmark in the city

The Granada Cathedral (Cathedral of the Incarnation) is the most noticable landmark in the city

  • Third weekend: Folklore, Gastronomy, and Handicraft Festival (Granada)
  • 24: Joy for Life Carnival, (Managua) – An annual festive carnival that takes place in the capital. Event-goers from all areas of the country come together to celebrate and to choose a new “Queen of the Fiesta,” who makes her debut during a parade through the streets.
  • First week: Religious Ash Paintings in León Second week: Fenitur, Managua – International wholesalers congregate at this annual international tourism conference to view exhibits of services and craftwork from a variety of national destinations and businesses. The conference lasts for three days.
  • 19-21: Fiestas Patronales, San Jorge (Rivas)
  • 1: Labor Day
  • 1: Fiestas Patronales, Jinotega
  • 15: San Isidro Labrador, Condega (Estelí)
  • 21-27: Fiestas of Palo de Mayo, RAAS – A lively time full of parties and fairs that takes place during the last week of May. Festival-goers and performers pass through the streets, while each neighborhood presents their own artistic expression and celebration to the community.
  • 30: Mother’s Day
  • Third weekend: Palo de Mayo Festival, (Bluefields)
 
  • 9-10: Ometepe Expo, Isla de Ometepe, Rivas – This is a celebration of UNESCO’s presence in Nicaragua and its contribution to the country. Local artisans come to display their work over two days. Nicaraguan music and food prevail at this event.
  • 16: Virgen del Carmen, San Juan del Sur Rivas)
  • 24: St. John the Baptist, San Juan de Oriente Carazo), San Juan del Sur (Rivas), San Juan de Jinotega (Jinotega)
  • 29: St. Peter the Apostle, Diriá (Masaya)
  • Last Friday: El Repliegue Sandinista (Managua)
  • Second Saturday: Carnaval, Somoto
  • 15-25: Fiestas Patronales, Somoto
  • 19: National Liberation Day
  • 25: Santiago, Boaco, Jinotepe (Carazo)
  • 26: St. Ana, Nandaime (Granada), Chinandega, Ometepe
  • International Fishing Tournament, Rio San Juan – This competition takes place on the Rio San Juan de Nicaragua among top regional fishermen.
  • 1, 10: Equestrians of Managua, Managua – An equestrian-centered festival in the city of Managua, this event is held over two days. Horses march through the streets with their riders, and the city rejoices all day long.
  • 1-10: Santo Domingo (Noches Agostinas), Managua
  • 10: St. Lorenzo, Somotillo (Chinandega)
  • 14: Gritería Chiquita, León
  • 15: The Assumption, Granada
  • 14-15: Fiestas Patronales, Ocotal
  • 15: The Assumption and Fiesta del Hijo Ausente, Juigalpa
  • Third weekend: Mariachis and Mazurcas Festival, Estelí
  • 10: San Nicolás de Tolentino, La Paz Centro (León)
  • 14: The Battle of San Jacinto
  • 15: Independence Day
  • 14 and 15: Fishing Fair, San Carlos (Río San Juan)
  • 15: Patron Saint Festival of Villa Nueva, Chinandega
  • 20: San Jerónimo, Masaya
  • 24: La Merced, León, and Matagalpa
  • Fourth weekend: Polkas, Mazurcas, and Jamaquellos, Matagalpa; Festival of Corn, Jalapa
  • 12: San Diego (Estelí)
  • Second weekend: Norteño Music Festival in Jinotega
  • 24: San Rafael Arcángel, Pueblo Nuevo
  • Penultimate Sunday: Fiesta de los Aguisotes, Masaya
  • Last Sunday: Toro Venado, Masaya
  • Last weekend: Nicaragua Diseña is the largest commercial and exhibition platform for Nicaraguan Design, which integrates brands, professionals and entrepreneurs in the same space, to share, exhibit and market Design, Culture and Art, as well as their experiences with visitors.
  • 2: All Souls’ Day
  • 3-5: Equestrian Rally in Ometepe
  • 4: San Carlos Borromeo, San Carlos (Río San Juan)
  • 12-18: San Diego de Alcalá, Altagracia (Ometepe)
  • Fourth Sunday: Folkloric Festival, Masaya
  • End of November: Latin American Surfing Competition (Playa Madera, San Juan del Sur) – As much as surfing in Nicaragua has evolved, so have surfing-related activities developed throughout the country. Surfers and surfing fans from all over Central America are expected to attend and participate. This event lasts for one week
  • First Sunday: Procesión de San Jerónimo, Masaya
  • 6: Lavado de La Plata, Virgen del Trono, El Viejo (Chinandega)
  • 7: La Griteria, (throughout Nicaragua) – A boisterous tradition, La Griteria is an annual celebration paying homage to the Virgin Mary. At 6pm sharp, thousands of Nicaraguans flock to the streets to sing and give thanks to the Virgin Mary.
  • 24-25: Christmas, Throughout Nicaragua – The climax of the Nicaraguan Christmas celebration is Christmas Eve at midnight.The holiday is a family celebration in which many Nicaraguans decorate their houses with lights, nativity scenes and pine trees. Traditions include fireworks, firecrackers and Christmas hugs at midnight.
  • December 31-January 1: New Year’s Eve (throughout Nicaragua) – A festive evening where family and friends congregate to celebrate the upcoming new year. A special dinner is held at midnight. Traditions include “burning the old year away” by constructing something that is burned at midnight, fireworks, firecrackers and hugging one another into the new year.