Holidays and Fiestas

Holiday & Fiesta

By Brenda Yun

The city’s patroness, “Virgen de La Candelaria,” is honored at La Popa on February 2. For 9 days before the feast, thousands go up the hill by foot, horse, or car and, on that day, they carry candles. There is a Caribbean music festival at the end of the year and for five days in March. Cartagena’s International Film Festival is held in the spring (usually in March). The Festival of Sweets is held during La Semana Santa (at the end of March) in Plaza de los Coches. Last, but not least, a great feast is held from November 11-14 to celebrate the city’s independence, where men and women in masks and fancy dress roam and dance in the street to celebrate the independence of Cartagena. Colombia’s national beauty contest is held during this festival.