The San Miguel Carnival in El Salvador.The San Miguel Carnival in El Salvador for 2024 is scheduled for November 30, the last Saturday of November. The festivities begin at 10 p.m. and extend until the following morning.
During the carnival, the main streets of San Miguel are filled with both local and foreign visitors enjoying the different types of musical events and other attractions.
The San Miguel Carnival in El Salvador is a spectacular celebration of culture, tradition, and vitality. With its roots deeply embedded in Salvadoran history, this vibrant fiesta combines music, dance, food, and colorful parades, creating an unforgettable experience for locals and visitors alike.
What is the San Miguel Carnival?
The Carnival of San Miguel is a yearly celebratory event that takes place on the last Saturday of November. The festival is the culmination of the month-long celebrations of the city in honor of the Virgin of the Peace, the patron saint of San Miguel.
This carnival is one of the most well-known celebrations in El Salvador. On the day of the festival, from 10 p.m. until the following morning, the main streets of San Miguel are filled with live music events and people dancing all over.
The municipality sets up various street venues so local and international artists can perform for the carnival crowds. Usually, over 30 musical groups and orchestras of different genres entertain attendees throughout the night.
The carnival marks the conclusion of a month-long celebration. The primary festival event unfolds on the last Saturday of November during the night. Nevertheless, the municipality organizes smaller events throughout the month.
The smaller events are called Carnavalitos or small Carnivals. These Carnavalitos occur in communities all over the municipality; they include concerts, parades, mechanical games, food festivals, and more.
The 2024 San Miguel Carnival
The 2024 San Miguel Carnival is scheduled for Saturday, November 30. This year’s event will feature over 25 musical groups organized by zones and categorized by different musical genres.
The “Mail Parade” (Desfile de Correo) is set for Sunday, November 27, marking the beginning of the main festivities of the city of San Miguel. This year, the parade will start at Miguel Félix Charlaix Stadium, proceed along Roosevelt Avenue, and conclude at Guzmán Park.
A few other events worth exploring during November in San Miguel are Carnivalitos. These are small carnivals that occur throughout the month in different city communities.
In November, San Miguel offers several events worth exploring, including the Carnivalitos. These are small carnivals held in various city communities throughout the month.
You can visit the Carnival’s website, Facebook page, or Instagram page to see the dates for this Carnivalitos.
How to Best Enjoy the San Miguel Carnival
The San Miguel Carnival is an all-night event! So, to take advantage of everything it offers, it is best to sleep during the daylight hours of that day and be at one of the principal city streets by 5 p.m.
The following might give you an idea of how to spend this Saturday night in San Miguel.
1. Experience the Float Parade
The first thing you must see is the float parade that starts at around 6 p.m. It is the largest parade of the month-long festivities. The parade has numerous colorful floats with hundreds of dancers and musical bands.
2. Taste the Local Gastronomy
After experiencing and viewing the long parade, it is time to try the local gastronomy and the local drinks. You can go to the fairgrounds or any area with food tents.
Finding tasty food will not be hard to find! During this night, the city is filled with vendors preparing traditional Salvadoran foods and drinks.
SEE ALSO: Flavor El Salvador street foods: The Best Salvadoran Street Foods to Savor!
3. The Live Music Events
After experiencing the parade and having some food and drinks, it is time to get into the spirit of the carnival.
From 10 p.m. until the following morning, music groups will be playing in different parts of the city. So, go to one of the street venues and enjoy great live music and dancing!
You can stay in one spot or explore different areas to catch various music performances. However, keep in mind that the streets will be packed with people, so moving between venues might be a bit challenging.
4. Go to the Beach and Relax or Continue the Party
The best way to end the experience of the San Miguel Carnival is to end up at the beach for some relaxation or to continue the party. Most people in the area will go to Playa El Cuco or Las Flores Beach, two of the best beaches in El Salvador.
SEE ALSO: Best Beaches in El Salvador. Discovering El Salvador’s Pristine Beaches!
The Carnival’s History
According to historical records, the San Miguel festivities were initially held every May 8; this is the date the city of San Miguel was founded.
In 1939, the Municipality Council moved the celebration to November to honor the Virgin of Peace (Virgen de la Paz), the municipality’s patron saint.
Initially, the festival was held in the neighborhoods around the city, but as the years passed, the festivities moved to the town’s Casinos (Entertainment Venues); however, only a small group of people had access to the venues.
Due to limited space at these entertainment venues and social hierarchy, most of the population couldn’t enter. Instead, they had to settle for listening to the music of the orchestras on the outskirts of the Casinos.
Then, in 1959, Governor Miguel Felix Charlaix noticed the isolation of the majority of people during the celebrations. He decided to make changes and began to make the orchestras do their presentations in the city streets. Since 1959, the San Miguel Carnival has been held on the city’s streets.
Over the years, the popularity of the carnival has spread to all of El Salvador and neighboring countries, to the point of recently proclaiming itself as the most important festival in Central America.
Major Religious Events During November
The November festivities in San Miguel are not only about the carnival. The celebrations are also about religion in honor of the Virgin of the Pace, patron saint of San Miguel.
The following are the most important religious events during this month.
El Festival Mariano
The Mariano Festival takes place on November 20; it begins around 8 p.m. and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace.
On the eve of the day dedicated to the patron saint of San Miguel, a faithful crowd gets together at Guzman Park in front of the majestic Cathedral of San Miguel.
The participants sing to God and the Virgin Mary under the invocation of the Queen of Peace. The singing goes on until the early hours of November 21.
Mass in Honor of the Virgin of Peace
On November 21st, following the Mariano Festival, a mass in honor of the Virgin of Peace is held at 9 a.m. This mass is attended by some of the country’s highest officials and local leaders.
Procession of the Virgin of Peace
The procession of the Virgin of the Peace begins at around 4 p.m. on November 21st. Like every year, hundreds of people participated in the ancient tradition of accompanying the image of the Virgin Queen of Peace in a procession.
The San Miguel Carnival in El Salvador
Year after year, thousands of locals and foreigners come to San Miguel to have fun and experience one of the most fascinating events in the country, the traditional Carnival in San Miguel.
Families come to this extraordinary and eye-catching event to enjoy the spectacular parade of artistic floats with their respective queens, which runs along San Miguel’s Alameda Roosevelt.
The San Miguel Carnival in El Salvador is not just an annual event; it’s a testament to the nation’s enduring spirit and cultural richness. Its lively festivities and traditions unite people in a joyous celebration that embodies the exuberance of San Miguel.
If you haven’t had the chance to experience the this fantastic Carnival, take a chance this year and visit the city of San Miguel in November. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience!
