Bolivian Festivities Guide - Bolivia Contact

1 Achocalla.- Religious party with interesting characteristic. Their most important element is the tarqueadas, the dancers make it with bread the the head and chains of pears to the neck. The proximity to La Paz city makes easier the access to the zone.

1 Laja.- Party for the change of authorities, commissaries, mayors, chiefs, etc. groups with decorations of fruits, carrying figures of condors, eagles and fishes made of bread. Groups of Tarkas and pinquillos.

24 Alasitas.- Handcrafted fair, where the miniature works prevail. You can appreciate this ability of the artisans; like the Creole gastronomy. This party is dedicated to the Ekeko ( god of the abundance) of the Andean culture for what people accustom to acquire in miniature all the possessions that she wants to have during the year, trusting that in the auspice of this deity will get it.

POTOSI

6 Change of agrarian authorities.- This festivity had importance to be one of the few samples of the tradition, it would originate of our country, that should be preserved and rescued so that the future generations understand its importance and have validity of the same one.

BENI

2 Sunday.- In this party an allegory is made to the return of the magician kings, in a prepared ship expressly for this end. In this occasion dance: negros, moperas del barco and Machetero del Niño Jesus. This celebration is carried out in several counties of the department.

Febrero

[Subir]

LA PAZ

2 Copacabana - Virgen de Candelaria.- They are carried out pilgrimages, masses, folkloric manifestations.

9 Jisk´a Anata Carnival .- Word that means time of happiness or game because it coincided with the moment when the field allowed a rest. The Indians was celebrated their rituals to the Pachamama and they danced in honor of the fruits of the earth.

ORURO

Carnivals (mobile dates).- In the celebration of this religious party, it surrenders cult to the Socavon Virgin, an unfolding of showy folkloric dances exists, among them; that La Diablada stands out, Los Tobas, La Morenada, Los Incas, Caporales and many other that make that the " Entrance " lasts from first hours in the morning until hours of the evening. Carnivals are celebrated in all Bolivia, varying in some cities the dates of the folkloric Entrances or Corsos."

10 Departmental anniversary.- Culture and Tourism fair with samples of craft, folklore and participation of the companies related with the sector.

COCHABAMBA

2 Aiquile - Virgen de la Candelaria.- Folkloric dances, artificial fires. Their main characteristic is the livestock fairs and agricultural products.

SANTA CRUZ

2 Samaipata - Virgen de la Candelaria.- Procession, music from bands. Complementarily you can visit the existent archaeological ruins.

Carnivals (mobile dates).- Parties and parades of carriages and processions with queens that give enhance to this celebration.

TARIJA

Carnivals (mobile dates).- Their main characteristic is the participation of the visitors in the parties that are carried out as much in the field as in the city. Unfolding of music and dances.

Marzo

[Subir]

ORURO

19 San Jose It takes place in the mine of the same name with great music unfolding, dances, artificial fires and a commercial fair. San Jose mine is located at 2 Km. of distance to the city.

CHUQUISACA

2 Second Sunday Tarabuco-Phujllay.- In this opportunity and commemorating the victory of their ancestors on top of the Spanish troops in 1816, peasants of all the closer communities meet in Tarabuco dressing their better attires, full with coloring to dance their ancestral music. It takes place a mass in Quechua language.

BENI y SANTA CRUZ

19 San José and San Ignacio de Moxos.- Festivity in honor to San José, where they turn bonfires for later extend the burning embers for the floor, for where devotes of the saint passed dancing, without burning.

Abril

[Subir]

LA PAZ

Easter (mobile dates).- It stands out the agrarian Fair of Sunday ( Domingo de Ramos) in El Alto city, sale of animals and agricultural products.

ORURO

Huari (mobile dates).- Main center for one of the commercial fairs of the most important agricultural products that is making in the country, where producers and buyers of all the regions of the Republic converge.

POTOSí

Easter (mobile dates).- It takes place with a lot of rejoicing. The procession is traditional, carried the Sacred Sepulcher, which is make every Sacred Friday.

CHUQUISACA

Yotala- Easter (mobile dates).- The celebration of this religious festivity embraces the whole department, but it has special characteristic in this population.

SANTA CRUZ

San Ignacio de Velasco. Easter (mobile dates).- The devotion of the residents is appreciated that represents the soldiers of The Passion during Sacred Friday. The celebration is prolonged to Gloria´s Saturday, with very original customs.

TARIJA

San Lorenzo - Pascua Florida.- The celebration begins on Saturday night with song and dance competitions being prolonged until the dawn of the Sunday Easter that takes place with a procession and mass. 15 Departmental Anniversary of the Tablada battle. - It takes place with Serenade, parades and popular parties. The next day it takes place the Chapaco Rodeo with horse´s career, rings career with participation of several counties and culture and tourism trades.

Mayo

[Subir]

LA PAZ

3 Suriqui - Fiesta de la Cruz.- Folkloric manifestations. Opportunity to visit the island, their attractiveness, their craft and the beauty of the Titicaca Lake.

May/June Fiesta del Gran Poder.- Important folkloric manifestation in devotion to Señor del Gran Poder, with participation of a great number of groups, in those: Morenada, Diablada and Caporales stand out. The entrance begins at first hours of the morning being prolonged until the evening.

SANTA CRUZ

3 Fiesta de la Cruz.- Vallegrande and the capital of the departament. It is a religious festivity that is characterized by the Wake of the Redemption that is carried out in the cemeteries.

COCHABAMBA

3 Santa Vera Cruz Tatala.- This party gives beginning to the agricultural year in the valleys of cochabamba. It is invoked to get the fertility of the earth, as well as of the couples. Folkloric dance are the mark of the festivity that takes place in a chapel located 7 Km. of Cochabamba city.

TARIJA

3 Canasmoro, San Andrés and Bella Vista.- Fiesta de la Cruz, Circles, horses parade, mass, procession, typical food.

POTOSI

8 San Juan de Dios festivity- Is celebrated in Manquiri.

CHUQUISACA

25 Departmental anniversary.- Eves, civic Parades. Fair of Culture and Tourism with samples of craft, folklore and participation of companies related with Tourism.

Junio

[Subir]

COCHABAMBA

13 Capinota, San Antonio.- Is celebrated with a mass, procession and Folkloric manifestations.

TARIJA

13 Sella, San Antonio.- Masses, procession, competition of folkloric dances.

LA PAZ

16 Italaque. Virgen del Carmen.- Folkloric groups, eve, mass.

21 Inti Raymi. Tiwanaku.- Sacred ceremony of greeting to the first sunbeam of June 21. The act is denominated Inti Raymi or party of the sun and it commemorates the arrival of the aymara new year according to the agricultural calendar.

29 San Pedro y San Pablo.- Party that takes place in La Paz – Tiquina - Achacachi.

ORURO

24 Corque, San Juan.- Eve with artificial fires, conjuntos folklóricos.

BENI

24 County Yacuma-Exaltation and San Juan.- It turns bonfires and then extends to step them.

Mobile - Festivity for the Santísima Trinidad.- Takes place in the capital of the department with great profusion of folkloric groups and bullfight.

POTOSí

Corpus Christie (mobile dates).- Solemn procession, mass and great unfolding of religious devotion.

Julio

[Subir]

LA PAZ

16 Virgen del Carmen Festivity.- In El Alto city. Entrance of dancers groups in honor of the Virgen del Carmen, morenos processions, diablos, llameros and others.

16 Virgen de El Carmen Festivity.- Grandiose festivity with the sicuris competition like: Jacha-Sicuris, Chiriguanos, Kullaguas, Kena-kenas, Callawayas, Tundiquis, etc.

25 Quime, Laja, Guaqui, Toro Toro. Apóstol Santiago.- The festivity during one week with folkloric manifestations, Quime is at 100 km. of The La Paz City.

University entrance(mobile dates).- Great folkloric party with the participation of the different universities of La Paz, with demonstration of varied autochthonous dances and multicolored costume.

Chicaloma. Negritos Party.- Great party with demonstration of dances would originate of the subtropical high valleys of Bolivia and mainly of the Yungas region.

BENI

22 Magdalena.- Local party with folkloric dances, bullfight, games.

31 San Ignacio de Moxos.- Patronal party, one of the most important of the Beni city with profusion of folkloric dances, verbenas, etc.

SANTA CRUZ

Julio/Agosto International festival of Renaissance and Baroque Music. Concerts in the Chiquitania Missions and Santa Cruz.

Agosto

[Subir]

LA PAZ

5-6 Copacabana, Virgen de Copacabana.- Takes place processions, pilgrimages and folkloric dances.

5 Italaque, Virgen de las Nieves.- Folkloric groups procession and mass.

24 Chulumani, San Bartolomé.- Folkloric groups procession and mass.

SANTA CRUZ

10 San Lorenzo.- Takes place in the city of Santa Cruz in the neighborhood of the same name, with eves, games and competitions.

TARIJA

10 San Lorenzo.- Celebration that is make in the population of the same name. Eves, wheels, ballads, procession and masses.

15 Virgen de Chaguaya.- This party has characteristic highly religious, pilgrimages, masses and processions. Typical food.

August/September - Yacuiba: Festifront.- Musical festival that is increased year to year. It has participation and representation of international music.

COCHABAMBA

15, 16 and 17 Quillacollo, Virgen de Urkupiña.- It is a religious - folkloric event that counts with a great affluence of visitors. It presents a full coloring entrance (tipical dances), with the participation of numerous folkloric groups. Masses, processions, sale of miniatures.

ORURO

15 Llallagua - Virgen de la Asuncion.- Folkloric dances, eves, artificial fires, procession and masses.

BENI

21 San Joaquín.- Patronal festivity. folkloric dances, bullfight and games.

POTOSI

Chutillos (mobil party).- Patronal Party and great Folkloric entrance dance and games.

Septiembre

[Subir]

LA PAZ

8 Viacha.- Bullfights, folkloric dances. This population is at 20 km. to the city.

14 Sorata.- (144 km. from La Paz). Folkloric manifestations and typical food. It is the most important festivity in the town.

21 Tiwanaku.- (702 km. de La Paz) Equinox of spring. Studious and numerous public are congregate to see the first sunbeam that crosses the lintel of the main door of the Kalasasaya Temple.

COCHABAMBA

14 Departmental anniversary.- Fair of Culture and Tourism, samples of craft and participation of the private company related with the tourism.

14 Several counties of the department - Señor de la Exaltación.- Masses, processions

SANTA CRUZ

8 Vallegrande. Virgen de Guadalupe.- Festivity with song competitions, food and typical drinks.

18-24 ExpoCruz.- The most important commercial and industrial fair in Santa Cruz.

24 Departmental anniversary.- Eves and civic parades.

CHUQUISACA

8 Sucre. Virgen de Guadalupe.- Eves. Solemn procession of the Virgin´s image.

POTOSí

14 Exaltación del Señor de la Vera Cruz in San Lorenzo Church.- Pilgrimage in honor of Señor de Manuquiri to their Sanctuary.

29 Uncía.- San Miguel Festivity, Folkloric groups, Tinkus. Mass and procession.

TARIJA

1er Domingo San Roque.- The Big Party of Tarija, with duration of 8 days, daily processions, food and typical drinks. The most outstanding in the party is the processions accompanied by the Chunchos promesantes of all the ages that they dance daily adorned with a singular costume.

Octubre

[Subir]

LA PAZ

1ro Viacha.- Festivity with folkloric dances, verbenas, masses and processions.

20 Foundation from de La Paz City.- Civic acts.

SUCRE - POTOSI

International festival of the Culture The cities of Sucre and Potosi become unpublished scenarios where the painting, the music, literature, theater, cinema, community manifestations and the participation of ethnic groups as well as the activities related with the contemporary art and the popular culture allow to find a true fraternity in the natural diversity existent between the participant nations.

ORURO

4 Huaylla. Virgen del Rosario.- Eves with artificial fires, song of ballads, entrance of folkloric groups, mass and procession.

24 Mining district of Santa Fe, San Rafael.- Patronal party with participation of folkloric groups.

TARIJA

Second Sunday. Virgen del Rosario.- Also denominated Party of the Flowers is carried out in the Neighborhood El Molino with Procession and Masses.

Second Sunday Entre Ríos. Virgen de Guadalupe.- Parade of horsemen matacos and chirigunos, cuñas (matacas women) at horse.

Noviembre

[Subir]

1-2 Todo Santos in the whole Republic.- takes place with visit to the cemeteries, the tombs are adorned. Dolls of bread, goodies, variety of masses and refreshing drinks.

ORURO

First Sunday.- Is carried out the First Invitation to the Virgen del Socavón, giving beginning to the Carnival of Oruro city. In this date they are presented to practice all the folkloric groups that participate in the carnival entrance.

BENI

18 Departmental anniversary.- Fair of Culture and Tourism with samples of craft, folklore and participation of the private sector.

SANTA CRUZ

30 San Andrés.- Festivities in the city with processions and masses.

COCHABAMBA

30 Taquiri. San Andrés.- Popular songs, artificial fires, folkloric dances.

Diciembre

[Subir]

SANTA CRUZ

3 San Francisco Xavier.- Patronal festivity in the town of the same name. The dances interpreted by the aboriginal are very showy, making rememorize of the defenses that made the old Jesuit Missions against the Portuguese.

8 Comarapa, Portachuelo and Cotoca.- Day of Purísima Concepción. Takes place with typical dances, food and drink.

BENI

3 San Javier.- Celebration of folkloric dances and bullfights.

COCHABAMBA

8 Purísima Concepción festivity- Takes place with masses, procession and parade of folkloric groups.

24 Navidad.- Takes place in the entire Republic, with special characteristic in each department. Stands out The Christmas in Villa Serrano (Chuquisaca). Vallegrande (Santa Cruz), San Ignacio of Moxos (Beni) and Tarija, where the celebrations are prolonged until ends of January.

Updating, May 2008