Carnaval de Ponce
The historic carnival of Ponce, on the south coast, held in the days before Ash Wednesday. Its central figure is the vejigante in a papier mâché mask, and it closes with the burial of the sardine. It is the best chance of the year to see authentic masks in the street rather than in a display case.
Example
The masks in the parade are the ones the city's artisans make, with horns and colors particular to each workshop.
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Related terms
Culture
Vejigante
The masked character of Puerto Rican festivals, in a bright costume with many horns and an inflated bladder used to...
Crafts
Careta de vejigante
The mask of the vejigante character, horned and painted in strong colors. In Ponce it is made of papier mâché with...
History
Casco urbano
The historic center of a Puerto Rican town, always laid out the same way: the plaza in the middle, the church on one...
Festivals
Fiestas patronales
The yearly festival of each of the 78 municipalities in honor of its patron saint, set up in the town plaza with...
Frequently asked questions
When does it fall?
It follows the church calendar, in the days before Ash Wednesday, usually February or early March.
Do I need a ticket?
The street parades are free. What needs booking well ahead is lodging in Ponce for those dates.
