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The Dominican Republic has a bewildering barrage of
festivals. On every day of the year, there seems to be
some kind of celebration somewhere, the majority of which
are regional fiestas patronales, held in honor of the
city's or town's patron saint. These traditional fiestas are
one of the great pleasures of a trip to the DR.
Major Holidays and Festivals
JANUARY
Virgen de Altagracia
January 21, the most important religious day in the
Dominican calendar, including a several-day pilgrimage to
Higuey.
Duarte Day
Holiday
in honor of the Father of the Country, with public fiestas
in all major towns on January 26.
FEBRUARY
Carnival
The pre-eminent celebration of the year, held on every
Sunday in February and culminating on February 27. The
biggest festival is in La Vega, with Santo Domingo a close
second.
Independence Day
Celebration of independence from Haiti and the culmination
of the Dominican Carnival (Feb 27). The place to be is Santo
Domingo.
APRIL
Semana Santa
The Christian Holy Week (variable, usually early to
mid-April) is also the most important week of Haitian and
Dominican vodú . Festivals take place in the Haitian
bateyes and in Haina.
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MAY
Espiritu Santo
Huge celebrations in the capital's barrio Villa Mella,
pueblo Santa María near San Cristóbal and the El Pomier
caves, and San Juan de la Maguana - held seven weeks after
Semana Santa.
JUNE
San Pedro Apostol
A magnificent Cocolo festival in San Pedro de Macorís
on June 29, with roving bands of guloyas performing
dance dramas on the street.
AUGUST
Festival of the Bulls
Higuey's fiesta patronal (Aug 14), with processions
coming into the city from all sides - some from as far as
30km - with cowboys on horseback and large herds of cattle.
DECEMBER
Christmas
Guloya
festivals in San Pedro de Macorís, Haitian Voodoo
celebrations in the Haitian bateyes and rural groups of
Caribbean-style Navidad carollers in the campos (Dec 25).
Festival of the Bulls
Traditional cattle festival in Bayaguana (Dec 28)
Business hours
in the Dominican Republic are normally 8.30am-6pm Monday
through Friday, and 8.30am-12.30pm on Saturday. About half
of the stores still close for the midday siesta. Banks are
generally open Monday through Friday 8.30am-noon and 2-5pm,
with a few open on Saturday.
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Dominican
Republic
travel guide
Dominican Republic
Where to go
 When
to go
Getting there
Entry requirements
Money and costs
Getting around
 Food
and drink
 Communications
Crime and safety
 Brief
history
Best of DR
Info and maps
 Diving,
surfing
 Festivals,
holidays
Explore
Dominican Republic
Barahona
Barahona
The City
East of Barahona
San
Cristóbal
San José de Ocóa
West of Barahona
Bayahibe
Bayahibe
Travel info
Boca Chica
Boca de Yuma
Cabarete
Cabarete
Windsurfing
Restaurants
Sports outfitters
Cibao
Cibao
Explore Cibao
Cordillera Central
Explore Cordillera Central
Jarabocoa
Jarabocoa
Arrival & accommodation
Restaurants,
tour operators
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La Vega
La Vega
Pico Duarte, Cordillera
Central's Nat'l Parks
San José de las Matas
Santiago
Arrival and getting around
Places to eat
Nightlife
El Castillo and La Isabela
El Limón
Hato Mayor and
Sabana de la Mar
Juan
Dolio
La Romana and
Casa de Campo
Practicalities
Las Galeras
Eating options
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