place

Fiestas patronales de Ponce

Carnivals in Puerto RicoFestivals in Ponce, Puerto RicoInfobox holiday (other)Infobox holiday with missing fieldPatronal festivals in Puerto Rico
Patronal festivals in the United StatesUse American English from February 2020

Fiestas patronales de Ponce is an annual cultural celebration held at Plaza Las Delicias in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The celebration, which commonly lasts three days, takes place in late December. Ponce's Fiestas patronales are heavily influenced by Spanish culture and religion, and are a tradition held in honor of the city's patron saint, the Virgen of Guadalupe. As such the celebration may be as old as the town itself (1692). The festivities usually include religious processions honoring its Catholic heritage. However, elements of African and local culture have been incorporated as well. They also feature parades, games, artisans, amusement rides, regional food, and live entertainment. It is attended mostly by people from the city of Ponce and its 18 surrounding barrios, but also people from all over Puerto Rico. The free event's attendance is estimated in the hundreds every day.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Fiestas patronales de Ponce (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors).

Fiestas patronales de Ponce
Calle Damas, Ponce

Geographical coordinates (GPS) Address Nearby Places
placeShow on map

Wikipedia: Fiestas patronales de PonceContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 18 ° E -66.616666666667 °
placeShow on map

Address

Calle Damas
00717 Ponce (Canas Urbano)
Puerto Rico, United States
mapOpen on Google Maps

Share experience

Nearby Places

Carnaval de Vejigantes

The Carnaval de Vejigantes, officially Carnaval de Vejigantes de La Playa de Ponce, is an annual celebration held at Barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The celebration, which commonly lasts three to five days, generally takes place in late January or early February. It started in 1991. It takes place at Parque Lucy Grillasca on PR-585 in Barrio Playa. The parade, one of the highlights of the carnival, usually takes off from Cancha Salvador Dijols on Avenida Hostos (PR-123) and ends at Parque Lucy Grillasca (PR-585). Attendance is estimated at over 15,000 people. It is attended by people from all over Puerto Rico, and some attendees are from as far as the United States. It is organized and operated by a community, civic, NGO group, not by any government or government agency.This carnival is different from many other carnivals in that attendees are not mere spectators, but people who are encouraged to take part in the carnival. The public is actually encouraged to come with their panderos, vejigante masks, güiros and maracas and participate ad hoc. The carnival has been called the "antesala" (gateway) to lent and to the Ponce Carnival: "This carnaval is not a fiesta patronal nor a festival. It's a town party and its essence lies in a public that participates." It aims to strengthen family bonds, create long-lasting memories, share together as a community, and keep local traditions alive.The Carnival brings together some 1,200 artists, including some 10 music bands, groups of vejigantes with over 40 people each, over 100 masked vejigantes, choreographed dancers, plus the thousands of locals who join in. This carnival has been described as a "townspeople feast of controlled chaos." Besides music, dance and food, the carnivals also features amusement rides, artisans, cheerleaders, jugglers, and arts and crafts, among other attractions. There are also workshops for children on how to make vejigante masks.