BEGINS 30 SEPTEMBER AND RUNS EACH WEEKEND THROUGH TO EARLY DECEMBER.
THIS IS LIKE A NEVER-ENDING STREET PARTY.
This party has the honour of calling itself the longest festival in Nicaragua. The celebrations kick off when townspeople carry an enormously heavy effigy of Saint Jerome from the church through the streets of the village.
NOT TO BE A DOWNER BUT, IS THAT IT?
It wouldn’t really be much of a party if that was the end of things. Following the street parade for Saint Jerome, the people of Masaya recreate the Torovenado parade that honours the Nicaraguan Saint Silvester – this other-worldly street march has participants dressed in all manner of weird and wonderful costumes – from unusual animals and folkloric demons to caricatures of famous Nicaraguans. There is music, dancing and food, and at night the whole thing turns into one huge party.
WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN IN MASAYA?
This village is known as the folklore capital of Nicaragua, which is why the party goes on and on for weeks and weeks after the initial parade. In fact, there’s a party every weekend for three months following the last day in September.
