Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FESTIVAL CASALS DE PUERTO RICO
World-class instrumentalists play the Festival Casals de Puerto Rico
(
www.festcasalspr.gobierno.pr
)
, honoring native cellist and composer Pablo Casals. For
the past half century this month-long event has offered top orchestral and chamber music
events in San Juan.
PUERTO RICO SALSA CONGRESS
The competition among professional dancers is cutthroat during the Puerto Rico Salsa Con-
gress, usually held in July in San Juan. Spectators have the chance to see the dance at its
highest form.
FIESTA DE SANTIAGO
Loíza Aldea's Fiesta de Santiago, held at the end of the month, brings Puerto Ricans of
African descent to a fiesta worthy of Bahía in Brazil: parades, fabulous drum ensembles,
masks and costumes revive saints and incarnations of West African gods.
August
Every weekend hosts parties for Puerto Rico's patron saints and the tropical rains
start to fall, as the island braces itself for the heart of the hurricane season.
SAN JUAN INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
At over half a century old, the San Juan International Billfish Tournament
(
www.sanjuaninternational.com
)
is one of the longest- running deep-sea contests of its
kind in the world. And what goes perfectly with fishing? That's right, drinking beer.
BOMBA Y PLENA
The music of plantation workers fills the air at Bomba y Plena festivals during late summer.
Explosive drumbeats and folk songs are the custom at a number of them, but reliably rowdy
ones happen in Ponce, and in nearby mountain villages of Juana Díaz and Aguas Buenas.
September
