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December Festivals & Events in Puerto Rico

December is one of the most festive months in Puerto Rico, bringing together centuries-old traditions, colorful festivals, holiday celebrations, music, and cultural events across the island. From the famous Festival de las Máscaras in Hatillo and Christmas parrandas to artisan fairs, religious observances, and New Year's festivities, December offers visitors an authentic glimpse into Puerto Rican culture during the holiday season.

Explore by Region: Metro · North · East · Central · South · West

Displaying 58 results.

Metro Region

1. Concurso Nacional del Cuatro - San Juan
   A prestigious competition showcasing Puerto Rico's finest cuatro players while celebrating the island's national instrument and rich musical heritage.
   
2. Festival del Macabeo - Trujillo Alto
   Signature culinary festival celebrating Trujillo Alto's traditional macabeo with local food, music, trovadores, artisans, kiosks, entertainment, and family activities.
   

North Region

1. Festival de Navidad - Dorado
   Dorado celebrates the holiday season with Christmas music, artisan markets, festive lights, traditional foods, parrandas, and family activities throughout the historic downtown.
   (787) 796-1230
2. Carnaval de Hatillo - Hatillo
   Famous for the Festival de las Máscaras, commemorating the Day of the Holy Innocents with costumed riders, elaborate masks, parades, music, and unique local traditions.
   
3. Festival de las Mascaras - Hatillo
   Colorful masks and costumes decorate Hatillo Festival of Masks. The festivities include dances, food, parades.
   (787) 898-3835
4. Festival del Guiro - Hatillo
   Traditionally held during the Christmas season. This celebration highlights the güiro, a percussion instrument closely associated with traditional Puerto Rican music, especially during the island's long Christmas season.
   (787) 898-3840
5. Festival Nacional de las Máscaras - Hatillo
   Traditional festival showcasing Puerto Rico's famous handcrafted masks, cultural exhibitions, artisan markets, live music, and the island's unique masquerade traditions.
   
6. Festival de Navidad - Manati
   Holiday celebration featuring Christmas music, artisan markets, traditional Puerto Rican food, parrandas, lighting displays, and family entertainment in the town center.
   (787) 854-2024
7. Trullas Navideñas - Toa Alta
   Christmas-season celebration featuring Puerto Rican parrandas, traditional music, and community festivities.
   
8. Fiestas de Navidad - Toa Baja
   Christmas-season celebration featuring parrandas, traditional music, holiday activities, food, and community entertainment.
   
9. Fiestas Patronales de La Inmaculada Concepcion de María - Vega Alta
   Every year, Vega Alta celebrates a patron saint festival. The festivities include dances, food, parades and religious processions.
   

East Region

1. Clasico del Caribe - Canovanas
   Prestigious Caribbean horse racing championship held at Hipodromo Camarero, attracting top thoroughbreds, jockeys, and racing fans from across the Caribbean.
   
2. Navidad en el Campo - Canovanas
   Annual Christmas celebration highlighting Puerto Rico's rural traditions with parrandas, holiday music, artisan vendors, traditional cuisine, Christmas decorations, and family activities.
   
3. Festival Comunitario de la Iglesia Catolica - Humacao
   A community celebration featuring religious activities, traditional Puerto Rican music, local food, family entertainment, and holiday festivities.
   
4. Fiestas Patronales Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria - Humacao
   Humacao's patron saint festival featuring religious processions, carnival rides, concerts, artisan kiosks, traditional food, and cultural performances.
   (787)852-3066
5. Fiestas Patronales Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria - Juncos
   Annual patron saint festival honoring the Immaculate Conception with religious services, colorful parades, live music, amusement rides, artisan booths, traditional Puerto Rican food, and cultural performances.
   (787) 734-0335
6. Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion - Las Piedras
   Las Piedras' patron saint festival honoring Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion with religious processions, live music, amusement rides, artisan fairs, traditional food, sporting events, and community celebrations.
   (787) 733-8122
7. Festival de Platos Típicos - Luquillo
   Highlights traditional Puerto Rican cuisine with local chefs, cooking demonstrations, artisan vendors, live music, and authentic dishes showcasing Luquillo's culinary traditions.
   (787) 889-2525
8. Festival de Navidad - Maunabo
   Holiday celebration featuring Christmas music, parrandas, traditional Puerto Rican foods, artisan vendors, seasonal activities, and family entertainment.
   (787) 861-0825
9. Maratón Año Viejo - Maunabo
   Traditional year-end road race bringing runners and spectators together for an athletic celebration through the streets and communities of Maunabo.
   (787) 861-0825
10. Festival Jibaro de Martorell - Yabucoa
    

Central Region

1. Certamen de Trovadores - Adjuntas
   Competition featuring Puerto Rico's best trovadores performing traditional improvised folk music and poetry.
   
2. Fiesta del Acabe del Cafe - Adjuntas
   Traditional end-of-harvest coffee festival celebrating Adjuntas' coffee-growing heritage with tastings, music, artisans, and local agricultural exhibits.
   
3. Maraton Eduardo Vera - Adjuntas
   Annual road race honoring Eduardo Vera, bringing together competitive runners and the local community.
   
4. Encendido Navideno - Aibonito
   Annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony that opens the holiday season with festive lights, live music, traditional Puerto Rican Christmas food, and family entertainment in the town plaza.
   
5. Festival de las Pascuas - Aibonito
   Seasonal festival celebrating poinsettias and Christmas plants with horticultural displays, artisans, holiday music, food vendors, and family activities.
   
6. Festival Navideno - Cayey
   The holiday season begins with Christmas lights, parrandas, artisan markets, concerts, visits from the Three Kings, traditional foods, and family activities in Cayey's historic downtown.
   (787) 738-3211
7. Fantasía de Navidad - Comerio
   Holiday celebration featuring Christmas lights, live music, artisan markets, traditional Puerto Rican holiday food, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the town.
   
8. Festival Cuevas de la Mora - Comerio
   Community festival celebrating the historic Cuevas de la Mora through educational activities, music, artisan vendors, cultural performances, and family events that promote the area's archaeological and natural heritage.
   
9. Maratón El Seco - Comerio
   One of Puerto Rico's best-known mountain road races, first held in 1975, attracting runners from across the island while featuring community celebrations, music, food kiosks, and family activities.
   
10. Día de los Inocentes - Morovis
    Traditional holiday celebration featuring costumes, music, family activities, and local customs observed throughout the municipality.
    (787) 862-2155
11. La Isla Menos Central - Morovis
    Community festival celebrating Morovis' famous nickname with artisan markets, music, local cuisine, and cultural activities.
    (787) 862-2155

South Region

1. Batey Criollo - Arroyo
   Cultural celebration highlighting Puerto Rican traditions through music, dance, crafts, folklore, and demonstrations of the island's rural heritage.
   
2. Fundación de Arroyo - Arroyo
   Commemorates the founding of Arroyo with historical exhibits, civic ceremonies, cultural presentations, music, and activities celebrating the municipality's heritage.
   
3. Parrandas de Navidad - Arroyo
   Traditional Puerto Rican Christmas parrandas with musicians visiting homes and public plazas, singing aguinaldos while celebrating the island's beloved holiday traditions.
   
4. Semana Puertorriquena - Guayama
   Week-long celebration of Puerto Rican culture with music, artisan fairs, folkloric performances, local cuisine, and community activities throughout Guayama.
   
5. Fiestas Patronales Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria - Guayanilla
   Guayanilla's patron saint festival honoring the Immaculate Conception with religious processions, live music, carnival rides, artisan kiosks, traditional food, and family entertainment.
   
6. Fiestas Puertorriquenas - Juana Diaz
   Holiday celebration featuring Puerto Rican traditions, Christmas music, local food, artisan vendors, and cultural performances that close out the year's festivities.
   
7. Festival de Harina - Patillas
   Culinary festival celebrating traditional flour-based foods, local recipes, Puerto Rican cuisine, music, artisans, and community activities.
   (787) 839-4120
8. Parada de Navidad - Patillas
   Holiday parade featuring Christmas music, decorated floats, community groups, seasonal entertainment, and family celebrations through the town.
   (787) 839-4120
9. Las Cantatas - Penuelas
   Holiday musical celebration featuring choral performances, Christmas music, community gatherings, and seasonal traditions.
   
10. Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - Ponce
    Annual patron saint festival honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe with religious processions, concerts, carnival rides, artisan vendors, traditional Puerto Rican food, and family entertainment.
    (787) 840-4141
11. Las Mañanitas - Ponce
    Beloved pre-dawn tradition held every December 12 honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe with a procession, mariachi serenade, Mass at the Cathedral, breakfast, and cultural festivities throughout the historic center.
    (787) 284-4141
12. Maraton Carlos Baez - Villalba
    

West Region

1. Festival de la Paleta - Cabo Rojo
   Community festival celebrating handcrafted frozen treats with food vendors, live music, family activities, and holiday entertainment.
   
2. Festival Le Lo Lai - Cabo Rojo
   Traditional Christmas festival held in Boquerón celebrating Puerto Rican holiday music with parrandas, aguinaldos, local cuisine, dancing, and festive performances throughout the waterfront village.
   
3. Aguinaldos - Hormigueros
   Traditional Puerto Rican Christmas caroling celebrated throughout the town with parrandas, music, and holiday festivities.
   
4. Dia de los Santos Inocentes - Isabela
   Traditional Holy Innocents Day celebration featuring cultural activities, community gatherings, music, and local holiday traditions.
   
5. Fiestas Patronales de San Jose - Lares
   Lares celebrates its patron saint festival with religious observances, live music, artisan markets, carnival rides, traditional Puerto Rican cuisine, and family-friendly entertainment in Plaza de los Patriotas.
   
6. Fiestas Patronales de la Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria - Las Marias
   Annual patron saint festival honoring the Immaculate Conception with religious processions, live music, artisan fairs, amusement rides, traditional Puerto Rican food, sporting events, and family entertainment.
   (787) 827-2280
7. Festival de Máscaras y Parrandas de los Inocentes - Moca
   Traditional holiday celebration featuring colorful masks, Christmas parrandas, music, dancing, and community festivities that preserve one of Moca's most unique cultural traditions.
   (787) 877-2270
8. Parranda de los Enchaquetaos - Moca
   One of Puerto Rico's most distinctive Christmas traditions featuring costumed musicians, parrandas, the lighting of the town Christmas tree, traditional aguinaldos, and festive celebrations throughout downtown Moca.
   (787) 877-2270
9. Festival del Petate - Sabana Grande
   Celebrates Sabana Grande's famous petate weaving tradition with artisan demonstrations, cultural exhibits, live music, traditional food, local crafts, and family activities.
   (787) 873-2060
10. Desfile de Navidad - San German
    Annual Christmas parade through the historic district featuring floats, marching bands, dance groups, community organizations, holiday characters, and seasonal entertainment.
    
11. Festival de Navidad - San German
    Traditional Christmas celebration featuring holiday music, parrandas, artisan markets, festive lighting, Puerto Rican cuisine, children's activities, and cultural performances throughout the historic town center.
    
12. Maratón de la Mujer Puertorriqueña - San German
    Puerto Rico's premier women's road race, attracting runners from across the island. The event includes a 5K race, youth competitions, awards, health activities, and community festivities celebrating women's athletics.
    (787) 892-3500
13. Puerto Rican Women's Marathon - San German
    Every year in february San German celebrates Puerto Rican Women's Marathon.
    (787) 892-3500

Festivals Region

1. Festival Navideno - North
   Vega Baja