Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
IRONWOOD WINE
Near Ponce, people in little Juana Díaz get tipsy with their Taíno heritage, celebrating Mavi
Carnival and toasting a fermented drink made from the bark of an ironwood tree. Festivit-
ies include lots of costumes, food and fairly intense hangovers.
SEMANA SANTA
The Catholic holiday of Easter gets celebrated for an entire week at Semana Santa festivals
throughout the island. The most vivid festivals will have a procession through the streets to
reenact the crucifixion - using a real person tied to a cross.
May
Many of the little agricultural towns of the south celebrate the arrival of spring with
the fruit of their harvests - including a delicious assortment of coco, mango, shrimp
and oysters.
FERIA INTERNACIONAL DE ARTESANÍA
Known locally as FERINART, the Feria Internacional de Artesanía (
www.ferinart.org
)
is
a chance for artisans from Puerto Rico and throughout Latin American to show off their
wares in Old San Juan. Tents with locally carved masks, paintings and crafts fill the streets
below the fort.
SEMANA DE LA DANZA
Ponce's Semana de la Danza, held in mid-May, features a week of music and dance con-
certs that celebrate the stately music of string quartets and 19th-century ballroom dance.
Many of the events are free.
June
Probably the most active month for festivals on the island, when Puerto Rico celeb-
rates food, jazz and crabs. The summer tourist season - when road-tripping locals
join foreigners - swings into high gear.
