Festivals & Events in Panama
Experience Panama's cultural events: Carnivals and festivals guide
Important Celebrations & Events in Panama
January 9: Martyrs’ Day in commemoration of the riots of January 9, 1964 for the sovereignty of the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal was controlled by the United States from 1903 to 1979.
11 January: “Mil Polleras” parade in Las Tablas
More than 10 000 women are dressed in traditional costumes of their region and their most beautiful polleras (headdresses)
mid-January: feria de las flores y del cafe in Boquete
mid-January: the Panama Jazz Festival brings together amateurs and international jazz artists
around January 20th: feria de San Sebastian in Ocu (province of Herrera), agricultural festival, folk dances, local gastronomy
Early February: the carnival takes place in several cities of Panama every year 4 days before Ash Wednesday. It is the most popular event in the country. The most important are the carnivals of Las Tablas, Penonome and Panama City
Early February: feria de Santa Fé, in Veraguas. Agricultural festival, local traditions and gastronomy.
February 25: Independence festival of the comarca Kuna on the islands of the San Blas archipelago March Ash Wednesday: festival of Diablos y Congos in Portobelo
Theatrical dances, songs, colourful masks are on the agenda
mid-March: festival of the Pollera Conga in Portobelo
during March: feria internacional de David Folk songs, dances and music.
April Holy Week – March or April: big processions all over the country
beginning of April: feria de las orquideas, in Boquete
end of April: feria internacional de Azuero in Los Santos
One of the biggest agricultural festivals in the country during which farmers exhibit their most beautiful cattle.
May 1st: dia del trajajo, trade union demonstrations for the fiesta del travai.
June early June: Corpus Christi, at the Villa de los Santos: parades, dances, local traditions
Many tourists come to discover this festive and colourful celebration.
July 22nd: Festival nacional de la Pollera, in Las Tablas. Parade of the most beautiful traditional dresses.
August 15 August: Panama City’s foundation celebration: music, dances ..
mid-August: Manito festival, in Ocu, in the province of Herrera
Representation of folk dances, local dance of the Mejorana.
September around the 15th: feria internacional del Mar, in Bocas del Toro
Various concerts and festive evenings with the aim of making people aware of the preservation of the environment
Around September 24th: festival of la mejorana in Guarare, which features this little guitar typical of the region. Dances, songs and folk music.
mid October: feria del torito guapo in Anton. Presentation of traditional costumes and election of the most beautiful
21 October: procession of the Black Christ in Portobelo.
November 10th: 1st call for Independence in Villa Los Santos
November 28th: national holiday.
December 8 December: Day of the Immaculate Conception, which is also Mother’s Day in Panama (holiday).
Traditions
Religion : Catholic
Drinks: Cane juice, Seco (sugar cane alcohol), rum (Seco Herrerano, Ron Abuelo and Carta Vieja), beer (Soberana, Atlas, Balboa, Balboa Ice, Golden Best, Panamá, Cristal).
Music and dance:
the mejorana, the punto, the tamborito with its dancers dressed in the pollera (typical Panamanian dress), the cumbia or the congo with African influences, the omnipresent accordion, the salomas (particular shouts found in the songs)…
Amerindian populations: they live at the eastern and western extremities of the country (Kunas, Emberas, Wounaans…).
Cuisine: corn (staple food of Panamanian cuisine), tama (corn-based paste filled with meat and flavoured with condiments), patacones (fried plantain banana slices that accompany or replace rice), cassava…
Sport: boxing (the sport that has given the most victories, joy and satisfaction in Panama).
