Fiestas de Santiago Apóstol
The festival of Loíza, on the north coast, held in late July and regarded as the liveliest expression of Afro Puerto Rican heritage. Vejigantes in carved coconut masks come out alongside caballeros, viejos and locas, and bomba plays in the street for days. It is not a carnival, it is a patron saint festival with its own procession and structure.
Example
The carved coconut mask that comes out in Loíza differs from the papier mâché one in Ponce, and that difference is the point.
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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...
Culture
Bomba (música y baile)
An Afro Puerto Rican genre of drum, song and dance born among enslaved communities on the coast. What makes it...
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...
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
Is it the same as the Ponce carnival?
No. They share the vejigante figure, but Loíza celebrates a July patron festival with African roots and coconut masks.
Can I just show up?
Yes, it is an open street festival. It sits under an hour from San Juan, so expect traffic and tight parking.
