The following festivals are the most popular organized events in Puerto Rico. In addition to these, each town celebrates its patron saint's day ( fiesta patronale ) and the ten days leading up to it. The PRTC has details.

FEBRUARY/MARCH

Carnaval Ponce

Celebration during the six days preceding Lent, featuring parades of traditional vejigantes , or masked revelers.

MAY/JUNE

Casals Music Festival San Juan

Two weeks of orchestral music with world-renowned musicians.

Heineken Jazzfest San Juan

Four days of Latin jazz, performed by Puerto Rican and international musicians, at the Sixto Escobar Park in Condado.

San Juan Bautista Day/Noche de San Juan (June 24/23)

San Juan's fiesta patronal . Parties and festivities in Old San Juan culminate with crowds walking backward into the sea three times, in honour of St John the Baptist.

JULY

Santiago Apostol Festival Loiza

Good place to experience the customs of santería . Very African in flavor, with costumed parades and bomba drumming. Not to be missed.

NOVEMBER

National Bomba y Plena Festival Ponce

African-based drumming and singing, by performers from all over the island