Belize Cultural Festivals

• Carnival – Every February, the entire country turns out to celebrate Carnival, but the best place to see colorful parades and street fun is in San Pedro, the capital of Ambergris Caye. Don’t miss the crazy costumes and outrageous body painting.
• Columbus Day – Columbus personally traveled to Belize on his final journey to the Americas, and every October 9, the entire country celebrates with a Pan American theme that features music, parades, and beauty pageants.
  
• St. George’s Caye Day – The small island that served as the first colonial capital of Belize was the location of a historic naval triumph over the Spanish on September 10, 1798, that led to Belize becoming the only outpost of the British Empire in Central America.
  
• Dia de San Pedro – Every June, the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye holds a week-long party to celebrate its founding.
• Township Day – Not satisfied with the June party, San Pedro celebrates every November on the occasion of the government formally recognizing it as a town with plenty of music, food, and boat races.
• Deer Dance Day – Every August, the Maya population of Belize honor their long heritage with a special ritualistic dance that celebrates a traditional deer hunt.
• Independence Day – Belize became an independent nation on September 21, 1981, and every year the entire country turns out in red, white,
  and blue (the national colors) for patriotic poetry recitals, parades, and plenty of music.
• Easter – Belize is largely a country of the faithful, and Easter is the only four-day holiday on the calendar.
• Garifuna Settlement Day – On November 19, 1832, the wearied Garifuna people arrived on the shores of Belize after participating in a revolt against the British on the island of St. Vincent. Today, Garifuna Settlement Day includes a dramatic re-enactment of their water landing along with lots and lots of Garifuna music, dancing, and food.