Well, it seems like 2020 got out of bed on the wrong side and the world has gone slightly crazy! We are all dreaming of a little social interaction with our family and friends, be it a simple hug, a family meal or a vacation to a beautiful Caribbean Island for an island festival!

Hopefully soon, 2020 will perk up and we’ll all be boarding planes heading to our dream post-lockdown vacation destinations! We’ve already told you why you should choose Belize for your lockdown escape, but apart from its natural isolation abilities and its reputation for a laid-back, go-slow vibe, it’s also a destination of exciting and colorful festivals.

Enhance your visit to Ambergris Caye by combining it with one of our local festivals and you’ll soon discover why San Pedro is also known as the “Party Capital of Belize”.

JANUARY

New Year Celebrations

January gets off to a cracking start with a classic Belizean New Year’s Eve Party at 10pm in Central Park, a free event with a music and light show that leads up to a spectacular fireworks display over the water and all-night parties. Join us to see in the New Year and party like an islander in San Pedro, Belize.

Camp Belize

Camp Belize is a unique Caribbean affair of diving and fishing, world class music with Mr. Bonjangles singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker and Belikin and rum, of course! This event brings lots of world-class live music and visitors to the island, so be sure to secure a vacation rental in advance to enjoy this fun, festival musical event in San Pedro.

Estel’s Annual BBQ Cook-off

This highly anticipated, finger licking good event is one of the funnest island events in San Pedro and takes place at Estel’s, a laid-back eatery on the sand. It’s the “biggest, baddest BBQ cook off of the year” and if you’re here in town, you’re in for a smokin’ good time!

The Wahoo Challenge & Music Festival

Anglers flock to Ambergris Caye for this deep-sea fishing tournament that has been an annual event since 2007. Taking on the challenge of a Wahoo catch in the cooler months of January sure is a challenge and we all know most good fishermen love a challenge!

This event is held at the Dive Bar, so even if fishing is not your thing, come along, watch the anglers bring in their catch and enjoy an awesome lineup of live music.

FEBRUARY

San Pedro Carnival

The San Pedro Carnival, also known as the “Fiesta de Carnaval” is a traditional Mestizo carnival that takes place every year during the week before lent. Masked revelers dance the streets, comparsa dancers perform, live music fills the air and the streets turn a rainbow of colors as locals throw paint and celebrate the deep cultural traditions of their Belizean culture. This vibrant, colorful and festive event is family friendly for kids of all ages and is a San Pedro festival not to miss! 

International Bullfish Tournament

Ambergris Caye is a prime fishing destination and we really like our fishing tournaments! The International Bullfish Tournament is held annually and if you think you can land a blue marlin, sailfish or bill fish over 500 pounds, this is the San Pedro fishing tournament for you! Belize and its locals protect their bonefish, tarpon and permit so this is a catch and release tournament.

APRIL

Easter

Easter is well celebrated in Belize as a 5 day holiday weekend with lots of celebrations and long-standing traditions that take place throughout the long weekend, starting at 3pm on Good Friday when the locals carry the cross through the town in a religious procession.

Good Friday is a dry Friday throughout Belize and you cannot buy alcohol at any establishment, until after 6pm. Then, the all-night parties begin and carry on through to Easter Sunday when the celebration ends with family-friendly Easter events such as underwater Easter egg hunts, contests, kite-flying and local celebrations.

San Pedro Lagoon Reef Eco Challenge

The San Pedro Lagoon Reef Eco Challenge is typically scheduled around Earth Day! This adventure sea kayaking eco-challenge covers a strenuous distance of 42 miles over 2 days, a challenge of both endurance and strength.

The starting line is on the main lagoon of Ambergris Caye and the contestants paddle through the many lagoons of the north to Bacalar Chico and Robles Point, ending in downtown San Pedro with a wild San Pedro style celebration at the finish line.

MAY

The Coconut Festival on Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is our little sister caye and lies only 30 minutes from Ambergris Caye. If you’re visiting San Pedro in May, the Coconut Festival on Caye Caulker is definitely worth a jet-ski rental or boat ride, if only for that experience alone!

The coconut plays a huge role in local culture and Belizean traditional cuisine and this festival celebrates everything coconut, literally! It’s all about delicious food (think coconut fudge!), coconut drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), family fun and games, coconut parades and dancing!

 JUNE

San Pedro Lobster Festival

June marks the beginning of Lobster season on Ambergris Caye and that’s a big deal for both locals and our guests who return year after year for this popular San Pedro event. We celebrate the start of the Lobster season with the San Pedro Lobster Festival, a week-long festival of fresh lobster and fresh delicious seafood specials throughout town! The festival ends in an awesome block party lobster cook-off between local restaurants. Don’t miss it!

Dia de San Pedro

The Dia de San Pedro festival is a celebration of our patron saint, St. Peter, founding fathers and the local fishermen, in a continued effort to preserve the local culture. This nine day religious and community event includes a fair, fishing tournaments, live music, cultural dances and lots of celebratory parties around town!

JULY

Grand Caribe Belize Deep Sea Classic Fishing Tournament

Every year the Grand Caribe in Belize hosts the Deep Sea Classic Fishing Tournament, a three day fishing extravaganza with events and experiences for the whole family. The event attracts big prizes with live music events, kayak races, volleyball tournaments with lots of fun throughout the weekend. Another great San Pedro fishing tournament packed with rod-bending excitement.

AUGUST

International Costa Maya Festival

The International Costa Maya Festival is Belize’s biggest festival and our most popular local San Pedro event, bringing international celebrities and visitors to our sandy streets from across the country and abroad.

The festival is a celebration of the Mundo Maya countries throughout Central America, a uniquely Latin event with traditional dances, live music and a beauty pageant with gorgeous ladies from all over Central America.

Tres Pescados Slam Tournament

The Tres Pescados Slam Tournament is Belize’s biggest catch and release fly-fishing tournament and is the Grand Slam of bonefish, tarpon and the elusive permit. Over 20 teams compete for the grand slam title in this three-day event for great cash prizes, treasured trophies and the ultimate bragging rights! Another world-class fishing event right here on Ambergris Caye!

SEPTEMBER

Belize Independence Day

On 21st September in 1981, Belize was granted an independent status by Great Britain and the San Pedro community really know how to celebrate this public holiday. The eve of the 20th, the town of San Pedro holds a big birthday bash with fireworks and 21 gun salutes, a festive and joyous celebration of independence.

On the 21st, the celebrations continue with flag raising ceremonies, the Jump Up parade, block parties, live music and traditional dance throughout the day. The local highlight of this celebration is the annual crowing of the beautiful Miss San Pedro.

OCTOBER

Conch Season

It may not be a festival, or an event but it’s a happy day in San Pedro! October 1st is the official opening of Conch season. one of San Pedro’s traditional foods and a local product that generates millions of dollars for Belize. Whether you eat it ceviche style, cracked, crumbed or fried up as fritters, if you’re here in town you’ll be sure to find a Conch fiesta going on somewhere in San Pedro town.

Birdwatching Season

Again, not a festival but definitely one for the calendar! Belize is home to over 600 different species and birdwatchers flock (pun intended!) to Ambergris Caye as hundreds of birds migrate to Belize for our warmer winter weather. If birdwatching is on your hobby list, now is the time to book your vacation on Ambergris Caye.

Halloween

We all love to dress up and have a bit of fun and it’s that time of year when anything goes! Halloween in San Pedro is well celebrated with spooky parties, extravagant events and freaky festivities happening all over town, with a fun family-friendly Halloween Party at the Holiday Hotel for the kiddies!

NOVEMBER

Garifuna Settlement Day

Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19th marks the arrival of the Garifuna people to Belize and the San Pedro celebrations begin from the eve of the 18th with the crowning of Miss Garifuna San Pedro in Central Park.

A traditional Belize festival, the festivities continue through the night with drumming circles, live music and traditional dancing. At first light there is a reenactment of their arrival from Garifuna, followed by a parade and a day of music, food and festivities.

DECEMBER

Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

The Holiday Lighted Boat Parade sets the mood for the festive season and can be enjoyed quietly from the beach or sundowner in hand from a Tiki Bar! A parade of boats beautifully decorated with twinkling lights, snowmen and Santas, sail from Boca Del Rio to Coconuts Hotel.

LOVEFM Christmas Parade

Everyone loves a Christmas parade! The Love FM Christmas Parade begins at Boca Del Rio and decorated floats, bubbly Santa’s and marching bands spread Christmas cheer and fill the streets with joy all the way to Central Park.

YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

There’s always something happening in San Pedro Town and if you’re staying in one of our oceanfront Indigo Resort condos, be sure to check-in with us for more local events during your stay. Here’s a few cool and quirky events you can’t miss out on your vacation on Ambergris Caye, we couldn’t leave them off the list!

Wahoo’s Lounge & Bar Chicken Drop – See the World Famous Chicken Drop for yourself!

Hermit Crab races at Crazy Canucks – A race track with a difference! Yes, hermit crab races!

The Mayan Feast at Elvi’s Kitchen – A buffet you’ll never forget

The Truck Stop – Movie nights, Sunday Funday Pig Roast, Farmers Market & much more …

BELIZE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS