Experience the Best of Belizean Culture: Your Guide to the Can’t-Miss Festivals in Belize This Year

June 29, 2024
by roshesgodfrey@gmail.com +

One of the best things about Belize is its vibrant festivals, where people from all walks of life gather to celebrate throughout the year. Some events are local while others are celebrated nationwide. Here are the festivals held in Belize every year that you should not miss.

Cacao Fest

Cacao is indigenous to the region and a major cultural symbol, so it stands to reason there’s an entire festival focused around it in Belize. Cacao Fest is held around the third weekend of every May in the town of Punta Gorda. This area is known as the center of cacao-growing in Belize and local producers came together to showcase the high quality of chocolate produced here. If you’re a chocolate lover, this isn’t one to miss.

Placencia Lobsterfest

Held in June or July every year, Placencia Lobsterfest is a three-day celebration of all things lobster on Belize’s southern coast. As you might expect, the menu is a lobster lover’s dream with everything from grilled lobster to lobster pizza. Aside from the food, the celebration features live music, games, races, and a fully-stocked bar. You can also have fun at the all-night beach party or make a positive environmental impact by participating in the Lionfish Tournament, where a prize is awarded to whoever catches the largest specimen of this invasive species.

Benque Viejo del Carmen Festival

The Benque Viejo del Carmen Festival is held in the town of the same name at the border with Guatemala every year in July. The event honors the town’s patron saint, Mestizo culture, and the unity of humanity. Unlike some of Belize’s other festivals, this one lasts three days and includes religious celebrations, live music, the Flor de la Feria Beauty Pageant, football matches, carnival rides, parades, and more. On the final day, a massive fireworks display serves as the grand finale.

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The Deer Dance Festival

The Deer Dance Festival is of deep cultural significance to the Maya people of Belize and has survived from ancient times. It is held every August in the village of San Antonio over a four-day period. The main event is the Deer Dance itself, which portrays the hunting of a deer through ritualized dance. More traditional dances, musical performances, and a greased pole climbing competition round out the festivities. Attendees gain a new appreciation for the strong relationship between the land and the Maya people.

September Celebrations

There are actually a number of celebrations held in Belize in September so the festivities last for most of the month. September 10th is St. George’s Caye Day, which celebrates the defeat of the Spanish Armada at the hands of the British, giving Belize its unique cultural history as the only English-speaking country in Central America. Then, on September 21st, Belize celebrates its Independence Day with parades and vibrant displays.

These are just a few of the many amazing festivals held in Belize throughout the year. Whether you want to time your trip for a particular festival or simply explore the events taking place while you are there, you will have plenty of choices.