Paraguay lives to the rhythm of its festivals. Religious or secular, Guaraní or Spanish, rural or urban, they are the beating heart of Paraguayan culture. From the Encarnación Carnival, the largest in the country, attracting 200,000 spectators, to the Caacupé pilgrimage bringing together 1.5 million faithful, through the gastronomic and craft festivals of every town, the Paraguayan calendar is a tapestry of collective emotions. Here are the 15 events not to be missed.
The 5 major festivals (not to be missed under any circumstances)
At a glance
- •Encarnación Carnival: 200,000 spectators, 4 weekends in January-February, tickets 10-50 EUR
- •Caacupé pilgrimage: 1.5 million faithful on December 8, largest religious gathering in the country
- •Expo Paraguay (July): 500,000+ visitors, trade and cultural fair in Mariano Roque Alonso
- •Holy Week: processions throughout the country, Tañarandy by torchlight on Good Friday
- •Paraguay Oktoberfest (September) in Independencia: German heritage in Guairá
- •13 major events documented in the calendar below, book 2-3 months in advance for major events
- 11. Encarnación Carnival (January-February, 4 weekends), The "most Brazilian carnival outside Brazil". Sambódromo with 40,000 seats, samba school parades, monumental floats, 200,000 spectators per edition. Euphoric atmosphere, tickets from 10 € (bleachers) to 50 € (central grandstand). Tip: book accommodation 2-3 months in advance, the city fills up. Parade nights start at 9pm and end at dawn.
- 22. Caacupé Pilgrimage (December 8), 1.5 million faithful converge on the Caacupé basilica (54 km from Asunción) to honor the Virgin of Miracles, patron saint of Paraguay. Many walk the path (20-30 km) as a sign of devotion. Solemn mass, processions, and intense popular fervor. Even for non-believers, it is a unique human spectacle. Pilgrims arrive the day before and camp in the streets around the basilica. The atmosphere is cordial, dotted with chipa, tereré, and religious souvenir stalls.
- 33. Expo Paraguay (July, Mariano Roque Alonso), The largest trade and agricultural fair in the country, heir to the 1889 Universal Exposition. 15 days of exhibitions, concerts, rodeos, fashion shows, and gastronomy. Showcase of the Paraguayan economy, 500,000+ visitors. Concert nights attract the biggest names in Latin American music (entry: 5-15 € depending on the artist).
- 44. Holy Week (Easter) (March-April), Holy Week is intensely observed in Paraguay. Processions, masses, Passion plays. Culinary specialty: chipa is prepared with family on Maundy Thursday. Tañarandy (near Encarnación) offers a spectacular torchlit path on Good Friday night, a heritage of the Jesuit reductions. The streets of Tañarandy are illuminated with hundreds of gourds filled with oil and wicks, creating an atmosphere both mystical and theatrical.
- 55. Paraguay Oktoberfest (September, Independencia), Heritage of German and Austrian settlers in Guairá. Craft beer, sauerkraut, sausages, Bavarian music. A more modest but authentic Paraguayan version of the Munich festival. Local families of German origin open their doors, and beer flows freely in a cordial atmosphere. Free entry.
These five festivals are the most emblematic, but each region of Paraguay has its own celebrations, often linked to the town's patron saint, the local harvest, or a historical event. The austral summer (December-February) is the densest season for festive events, coinciding with holidays and carnival. The winter months (June-August) are quieter, except for Expo Paraguay in July and the San Juan Festival in June.
The exact dates of festivals vary from year to year, and it is essential to check the official calendar before planning your trip. The SENATUR website publishes an updated calendar of major events each year. Municipal social media (Facebook remains the most used channel in Paraguay) is the most reliable source for final dates, times, and booking procedures. For religious festivals, dates are fixed (Caacupé on December 8, San Juan on June 24), but the program of processions and masses may vary. For the Encarnación Carnival and Expo Paraguay, dates are announced 6 to 12 months in advance.
Understanding the social dimension of festivals is essential to appreciate their full richness. Beyond the spectacle, these events are unique moments of social cohesion in a country marked by strong disparities. The Encarnación Carnival, for example, is organized by local comparsas (neighborhood associations) who work all year on costumes and floats. Each comparsa represents a neighborhood, a community, and competition between them is fierce but cordial. Attending a carnival is not just watching a parade: it is seeing years of collective work parading before your eyes, supported by the pride of an entire community. The same logic of collective participation structures the San Juan Festival, where each neighborhood prepares its own games and mbeju.
Cultural and artistic festivals
Beyond the major national events, Paraguay has a myriad of local festivals that are the pride of their communities. Some are centuries-old, others have recently emerged as tools for tourism development. All offer an authentic immersion in Paraguayan culture, far from standardized circuits.
- 1Tereré Festival (February, Itakyry), Celebration of the national drink, inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list (2020). Tastings, best cebador contest, Guaraní music. Master cebadores compete in creativity blending yuyos (medicinal herbs).
- 2Ñandutí Festival (March, Itauguá), The city of Itauguá celebrates its legendary lace. Parades, workshops, sales exhibitions. An opportunity to buy ñandutí directly from the artisans and watch lace-making live.
- 3Strawberry Festival (September, Areguá), Areguá, capital of strawberries and ceramics, celebrates its harvest. Tastings, biggest strawberry contest, potters at work. Ideal for combining crafts and local gastronomy.
- 4Takuare'ê Festival (March, Guarambaré), Sugarcane celebration with flower float parades, folk music, and fresh sugarcane juice tasting. Authentic rural atmosphere. The name comes from Guaraní and means "sweet cane".
- 5San Juan Festival (June 24, nationwide), San Juan night mixes Guaraní and Catholic traditions: bonfires, games (walking on coals, running with an egg on a spoon, "toro candil" : a man dressed as a bull on fire), and mbeju tasting. It is the most popular festival in Paraguay after Holy Week.
These cultural festivals are also an opportunity to taste local specialties. Each event highlights its region's gastronomy: chipas in Itauguá, strawberries in Areguá, sugarcane in Guarambaré. The musical dimension is central: Paraguayan polka, with its lively rhythm mixing guitar, harp, and accordion, sets the pace for most of these celebrations. The atmosphere is family-friendly, children are present, and foreign visitors are greeted with friendly curiosity.
Month-by-month calendar
| Mes | |
|---|---|
| January | Encarnación Carnival (4 weekends). Watermelon Festival in San Lorenzo. |
| February | Carnival (end). Tereré Festival in Itakyry. Candlemas Virgin Festival. |
| March | Takuare'ê Festival in Guarambaré. Ñandutí Festival in Itauguá. Holy Week (variable). Start of tourist season. |
| April | Holy Week (processions, Tañarandy). Paraguay International Film Festival (Asunción). |
| May | National holidays (May 14-15): military parades, concerts, fireworks. Independence Day. |
| June | San Juan Festival (June 24, nationwide). Batiburrillo Festival in San Juan Bautista (Misiones). |
| July | Expo Paraguay in Mariano Roque Alonso. School holidays (high domestic tourism season). |
| August | Folklore Day (August 22): traditional dances in schools and squares. Assumption Festival (August 15) in Asunción. |
| September | Oktoberfest in Independencia. Strawberry Festival in Areguá. Chipa Festival in Eusebio Ayala. |
| October | Virgin of the Rosary Festival (Itauguá, Luque). Poyvi (weaving) Festival in Carapeguá. |
| November | International Book Fair (Asunción). Surubí Festival in Ayolas. Caacupé preparations. |
| December | Caacupé Pilgrimage (December 8). Paraguayan Christmas (family asado, midnight fireworks). New Year celebrations. |
Tips for enjoying the festivals
Last updated:
Sources
My method
This page is written from France, sourced as carefully as possible, but I can be wrong or miss on-the-ground detail. A price that changed, outdated info, a photo to share? Every correction is credited if you want.
Report an error or send info →Share