San Sebastian Street Festival 2024

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Sebastian Street Festival 2024: A lively and energetic event that sets Old San Juan on fire

Thousands of people – both locals and travelers – show up in Old San Juan to party day and night. Nearly 400 artists and local musicians set up and take part in the festival. Dressed up as characters they participate in a parade that grows larger every year. The parade is filled with lively, bright and colorful costumes and traditional vejigantes masks.

“It is a magnificent blend of art, rhythm, entertainment and enjoyment that starts when the sun rises and gains more momentum when it sets.”

facebooktwitterpinterest

Your experience at the San Sebastian Street Festival 2024

The festival is a celebration of Saint Sebastian. During the day, you will find the artisans set up along the streets selling handmade jewelry. The incredible food and live music is super fun for families and kids.

At night, a big stage is set up and people dance and drink the night away. The main stages are Plaza del Quinto Centenario, Plaza Colon, Plaza de Armas and Plaza de La Barandilla. Concerts start to wind down around 11pm and the bars start to shut down around midnight.

Best views of the San Sebastian Street Festival

The Festival takes place in San Sebastian Street, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

facebooktwitterpinterest

How to get around Old San Juan

As the festival is happening, you can only get around Old San Juan by foot. No cars or vehicles of any kind will be let in or around the festival site. If you do decide to drive to the festival there are limited car parks available, they fill up quickly so you will want to arrive super early. Most people will make use of public transportation like the ferry or the public busses.

Once in Old San Juan, you’ll be happy to be on foot as it is the only thing allowed but you will be able to walk around and see everything that is going on.

There are two airports you can fly into, one in San Juan and one in Aguadilla. San Juan is the main airport and Aguadilla is a smaller airport on the other side of the island.

facebooktwitterpinterest

Where to stay in Old San Juan

You can find all sorts of accommodation in Puerto Rico and since it is small you can stay anywhere and still get to most places in one day. Stay near the action in San Juan and walk to the festival in Old San Juan.

There are hotels, motels, guest houses, apartments and condos to rent as well as studio rooms and hostels in San Juan. 

facebooktwitterpinterest

Things to do in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a small island and the best way to do as many things as possible is to rent a car. You can drive around the whole island in about a day. There is the cloud forest called El Yunce where you can hike and swim in waterfalls. The beaches in Puerto Rico are tropical and beautiful, you can relax, swim, kayak, stand up paddle, snorkel and of course learn to surf and you will definitely want to make time to see the Bioluminescent Bay.

You can take ATV tours as well as tours on boats and sailboats and jet skis. Puerto Rico is incredibly beautiful and sunny so you should spend as much time outdoors as possible. However, it is also a very historical island and there are many museums to tour through ton learn about the culture and past.

Old San Juan is amazing to visit even when the festival is not happening as it is beautiful with cobble stone streets and set up right along the river where there is a fun party boat the cruises up and down at night.

San Sebastian Street Festival 2024 Dates

The street festival takes place on January 18-21, 2024.

Go to Puerto Rico for the San Sebastian Street Festival, but stay for everything else.

Photo Credit: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, El Vocero de Puerto Rico, Puertoricogram, Telenoticias PR