It is no secret that people in Puerto Rico know how to party, especially around the Christmas holidays. Announce that there will be a parade, music, dancing, libations, food – then add in local artisan crafts for sale – and it all adds up to one crazy celebration! That describes the San Sebastian Street Festival, or Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian, which will be held in 2013 from January 17th to 20th.

Do you know someone who loves amusement parks or carnivals? Then La Feria – The Park will be right up their alley. This annual carnival runs from mid-November through the end of the first week of January. This family-friendly fair is full of amusement park rides and games, food and refreshments, live music and shows, holiday light displays and even a petting zoo.

Loiza is a town steeped in tradition. It has roots that combine Spanish culture and traditions with African culture, and meld them into a unique Puerto Rican experience. One of the most colorful examples of this would be the annual Saint James Festival in Loíza. It is a multi-day event that occurs around July 25, the feast day of Saint James.

Every year, the town of Aibonito hosts the largest plant show & sale on the island. It features flower & plant displays, a large section for plant sales, live local music shows (of course) and food kiosks. This year, the festival will be from June 29 to July 8, 2012.

If you are staying in the northeast part of the island, and want to spend an evening at dinner and a show, the Wyndham Rio Mar in Rio Grande offers a different show every Friday of the month. They set up a small dance floor in the Marbella Restaurant, and you can enjoy a buffet dinner while watching their live music and dance show.

Food, glorious food … Drinks … Cooking technique & recipe demonstrations by famous local & international chefs … Live entertainment … All in a glorious ocean-front setting. That is what you will experience at the 5th annual Saborea Puerto Rico "A Culinary Extravaganza". It will be held April 21 & 22, 2012 at the Escambron Beach in Old San Juan. We have gone for the past couple of years, and we’ve really enjoyed ourselves. So you know we will be there again this year!

I like turtles. So when April comes around, we head to the Luquillo town plaza to celebrate the annual Festival el Tinglar. Since 2006, the Sierra Club has sponsored this event to help promote awareness and conservation of the wonderful natural environment in this part of Puerto Rico. This year’s Festival el Tinglar is on Saturday, 14 April 2012. We encourage you to stop by!

I know that when people think about music in Puerto Rico, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Salsa or Reggaeton music. But Jazz lovers won’t be left out when the visit the island, as there are quite a few places that have Jazz nights or shows.

If you like Jazz, Condado is the place to be on the last Sunday of every month. That’s when Heineken sponsors Ventana al JazzFest – a free, open-air jazz concert at Ventana al Mar park in Condado. Bring a chair or a blanket, and a cooler full of your favorite food/beverage, and make an evening of it!

The Ponce Carnival is an annual week-long celebration. There are parades with wildly decorated floats, crazy costumed people, lots of music, loads of spectators, and merriment. Similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, it is derived from the old world tradition of a final celebration before the beginning of Lent. But over time, it has transformed into a week-long party! This year, the Carnaval de Ponce will be from February 6 to 12, 2013

Whether you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day on vacation, a night on the town, or a little dose of the arts, you are sure to find something to your liking here in Puerto Rico. From local talent to world-renowned superstars, we have it all — concerts, performing arts, family entertainment. The lively entertainment scene on the island generally kicks into high-gear for the Christmas season.

Are you looking for a fun shopping experience in San Juan? On the first Sunday of every month, the Mercado Urbano is set up at La Ventana al Mar in Condado. Under big tents, this market holds about 40 or 50 vendors of local, Puerto Rican made products. Everything is home grown or home made on the island. You’ll be able to find all sorts of things. It is a great stop.

Caguas is a wonderful small city, just 20 minutes south of San Juan, that offers many things to do for visitors. One of those things is La Ruta del Corazón Criollo (the Route to the Heart of Creole). It is a self-guided walking tour to 12 museums and places of interest, all within a few blocks around the town square. These museums provide visitors some insight into the history of Caguas and Creole.

SoFo is the Old San Juan Culinary Festival semi-annual food festival. It’s typically held in the early summer & again in the fall, and it is all about enjoying food & having fun. In the evening, the Old City closes a number of streets to traffic. Then the restaurants start setting up serving tables and bars, tables and chairs, and stages are set up for the bands. This summer, the festival is being held from July 8 through July 11, 2010.

Carnival — the word itself conjures up images of festivals and fun from around the world! And Puerto Rico is no exception. Almost every town holds a carnival — some big, some small. No matter what the size, you can always count on finding music, dancing and food. Carnival will be held in Rio Grande from June 30 – July 4. Stop by and take part in the fun!