The Tarijan calendar is jammed pack full with festivals that last anywhere from a few days to a month. Many are religious, though some celebrate local customs and some put a chapaco twist on nationally celebrated festivities.

Carnaval season is a big deal here, kicking off with El Día de Compadres (for men) and El Día de Comadres (for women) on the two Thursdays before Carnaval proper. On both days the streets are filled with people carrying baskets decorated with balloons and streamers that contain cakes, flowers, fruits, sweets, cheeses, sometimes lambs and bottles of wine or singani. These gifts are then exchanged as a symbol of friendship. The men invite each other to finish their glass of chichi or wine. These traditions originate in Asturias, Spain and are a cultural heritage that was transported to Tarija during Colonial times.

The celebration of Comadres is the bigger of the two fiestas and is the most important day prior to Carnaval. Thousands of women take to the streets during the evening wearing traditional chapaca dress. They dance the night away carrying their basket of goodies on their heads.

Carnaval season is a great time to experience traditional Tarijan music and dance. Other events throughout the celebrations include the election of the Carnival Queen and massive water fights.

Fiesta de San Roque, named after the patron saint of the city, is pretty spectacular and is Tarija’s most popular festival. The celebrations begin with the day of San Roque on August 16 when all the town dogs are decorated with ribbons. The main festivities start on the first Sunday of September with the dance of the churros. Up to 500 men parade down the streets wearing multi-colored robes, silk scarves, veils and magnificent feather head dresses adorned with beads and charms and stuffed silk hearts decorated with shells. These men made a promise to the Virgin to dance for a minimum of three years in exchange for good health for their families. Although, some men have danced for more than 40 years. There are smaller parades on Sundays throughout the month.

The Fiesta de las Flores on the second Sunday of October is dedicated to the Virgin de Rosario. The procession begins at the church of San Juan and spectators line the streets to throw flower petals over the participants. There’s also a fair to buy local crafts.

Other of Tarija’s bigger festivals include: the Fiesta de la Virgin de Chaguayu (August/September), the Fiesta de Guadalupe (October), the Fiesta de San Lorenzo (10th August) and the festival of the grapes (February/March). Semana Santa/ Easter is also a big celebration here and the city is decorated with flowers.