Five Guatemalan cultural festivals for the remainder of 2025

Guatemala boasts a wide range of cultural festivals that showcase a rich fusion of Mayan heritage, unique colonial traditions, and contemporary artistic expressions. This festive tapestry is the perfect excuse for any traveler looking to immerse themselves in Guatemalan culture and discover all the energy, color, and spirit of its people from celebration to celebration. These five festivals are a small sample of the extensive calendar of events that take place throughout the year in the Central American country.  

Feast of the Virgin of the Assumption  

Celebrated every August 15th, the Feast of the Virgin of the Assumption is one of the most important and culturally significant celebrations in Guatemala City. In honor of Our Lady of the Assumption, the city's patron saint, the festivity combines religious devotion, popular entertainment, and centuries of tradition, serving as a vivid reflection of Guatemalan cultural identity. One of the highlights is the Jocotenango Fair, a lively street fair featuring rides, recreational activities, traditional food stalls, handicrafts, and captivating cultural performances. The celebration combines spiritual reverence with popular joy, marked by fireworks, solemn masses in the Cathedral, and a community atmosphere that fills the city with positive energy.

Independence Day

​In commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of Central America in 1821, Independence Day is one of Guatemala's most patriotic and unifying national holidays. It is celebrated on September 15th with colorful parades, traditional dances, school bands, and colorful costumes that reflect deep national pride. Folklore performances, fireworks, and the iconic Independence Torch Race, a symbolic race in which lit torches are carried over great distances, represent the spirit and spread of independence, take place in the capital, La Antigua, and Quetzaltenango. More than just a celebration, it is a powerful expression of unity among Guatemalans.

Day of the Dead

On November 1st, the picturesque towns of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez become the stage for the vibrant Day of the Dead Festival, also known as the Giant Kite Festival. Locals and visitors can witness the sky filled with enormous, colorful kites meant to honor deceased loved ones and ward off evil spirits. A tradition dating back thousands of years, this celebration blends Mayan spirituality with Catholic ritual, inviting everyone to enjoy traditional fiambre (a traditional Mexican sausage), contemplate impressive daytime kite displays, and participate in flying competitions. This celebration offers a truly unforgettable way to experience Guatemala's rich cultural heritage.

Feast of Saint Thomas  

From December 13th to 21st, the town of Chichicastenango is filled with color and music with the Fiesta de Santo Tomás, a week-long celebration that pays homage to the town's patron saint. It is a unique fusion of Mayan traditions and Catholic rituals, experienced and embraced by the entire local community. Visitors are invited to participate in the celebration by wearing costumes made by locals for the occasion, participating in the Cofradía's spectacular opening and closing parades, enjoying traditional dances, and admiring breathtaking fireworks displays.

Christmas and Christmas Eve  

For those seeking a different kind of Christmas, Guatemala offers a unique, deeply spiritual, and family-centered celebration. Recognized as one of the country's richest cultural experiences, it takes place throughout the month of December, blending Catholic traditions with colonial and Mayan influences. It all begins on December 7th with the Burning of the Devil, a symbolic act in which communities burn figures to purify their spirits and prepare for the birth of Jesus. Las Posadas, from December 16th to 24th, follows nighttime processions that recreate Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, accompanied by delicate handcrafted nativity scenes, music, and traditional cuisine. The celebrations culminate on Christmas Eve, when families gather for a midnight meal of tamales and fruit punch, while bells ring and the sky lights up with fireworks. The warm Guatemalan spirit unites entire generations and welcomes anyone who wishes to immerse themselves in this month of celebration. 

Source: Alfabétiko.