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Arubans are well-known for their fun, easy-going festivals and events. Aruba offers exciting events for everyone from single tourists to families with children. You can purchase food and drink at most festivals, and don't be surprised if a crafty souvenir catches your eye. One thing is certain: You will definitely enjoy your Aruban festival experience.
Weekly Festivals
The Bon bini Festival takes place every Tuesday evening, rain or shine, from 6:30 to 8:30. Check out local food, drink, music, dancing, arts, and crafts."Bon bini" means"welcome" in Papiamento, and that's the perfect word to describe the enthusiastic environment of this festival. The Bonbini festival showcases some of Aruba's most amazing artists. Steel drum musicians and dancers exude talent, and local artists and craftsmen show off their very best wares. Admission to this event is usually around $3 (USD) but can fluctuate; food and drink costs are separate, so make sure to budget for that, as well as for any purchases you may make!
"One Cool Summer" is held every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. near the Hyatt Regency Resort and Casino. This festival focuses on live entertainment and music, and like the Bonbini festival, also features local artists and food.
Also similar to the Bonbini festival is the weekly Caribbean festival held on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This festival highlights Caribbean cultural heritage through traditional dance, music, food, and art. The festival begins with a music and dance performance, continues with an open-air street market, and concludes with a presentation on Caribbean culture at the St. Teresita Center.
Annual Festivals
Every year, coinciding with Lent sometime in February, Aruba celebrates Carnival, a grandiose, two-week festival of fantastic parties, dinners, parades, and events. Carnival in Aruba begins with two children's festivals and parades, before kicking it up a notch. The Carnival Queen competition takes place in Oranjestad, where women finally show off the Carnival costumes they've worked on all year. The first Grand Carnival Parade is held in San Nicolas, and the second in Oranjestad. Both feature amazing handmade floats and costumes, entertaining Aruban song and dance, and delicious food and drink. Afterwards, the big events that mark the end of Carnival take place simultaneously in San Nicolas and Oranjestad: the Old Mask Parade and the Burning of King Momo. Resorts, restaurants, and bars host their own Carnival celebrations across the island.
Each June, the popular Jazz and Latin Music Festival features talented musicians from around the world. Summer tourists can enjoy the musical stylings of internationally-acclaimed musicians while enjoying traditional Aruban food and drink. More active travelers can grab their partner's hand and hit the dance floor, dancing to salsa and meringue hits.
Whatever festival you chose to attend, it's crucial to check with your hotel concierge or local tourist guides, since time, location, and cost fluctuate as events and festivals become more popular. If you are planning to visit exclusively for an annual festival like Carnival, check out Aruba's official tourism website, www.arubatourism.com, for updated cost, date, and time information.