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Cuba🇨🇺 | festivalsLas Parrandas de RemediosRival barrios, illuminated floats, homemade fireworks, December 24 | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Las Parrandas de Remedios
🌟 Highlightfestival ranked #5
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 23, 2026

Las Parrandas de Remedios is a one-night blowout, not a week-long festival: the real action peaks on December 24, when the town splits into two rival barrios, San Salvador and El Carmen, and tries to out-blast each other with floats and fireworks. The town of Remedios sits in central Cuba, in Villa Clara province, northeast of Santa Clara. I walked into the main square after dark, and the first thing I felt was the ground thudding from a firework before I saw a single float. Skip the daytime, because the streets are quiet and the floats are hidden. Come after dark for the plaza, where you get the noise, the light and the crowd shoulder to shoulder. Remedios suits curious, sociable travelers who like loud, rough-edged street parties. It will not suit anyone wanting polished stages, quiet sleep or easy comfort.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #5 festival in CubaWhy visitors keep coming back

Las Parrandas de Remedios pulls backpackers because it is a neighborhood rivalry that outsiders get to join, not a show staged for tourists. People wear the colors of San Salvador or El Carmen and will happily adopt you for the night, which gets you into conversations and shared rum faster than any hostel common room. Most of the crowd is Cuban, so the energy is local, loud and unfiltered.
The timing also suits a longer Cuba route. Remedios sits close to Santa Clara, Trinidad and the northern cays, so you can build a loop around December 24 and still have days either side for beaches or colonial towns. Because the main event is concentrated in one night, you do not need to burn a week here, which keeps the cost of the detour low. Book a room well ahead, since the small town fills quickly and … read more 👉
Las Parrandas de Remedios pulls backpackers because it is a neighborhood rivalry that outsiders get to join, not a show staged for tourists. People wear the colors of San Salvador or El Carmen and will happily adopt you for the night, which gets you into conversations and shared rum faster than any hostel common room. Most of the crowd is Cuban, so the energy is local, loud and unfiltered.
The timing also suits a longer Cuba route. Remedios sits close to Santa Clara, Trinidad and the northern cays, so you can build a loop around December 24 and still have days either side for beaches or colonial towns. Because the main event is concentrated in one night, you do not need to burn a week here, which keeps the cost of the detour low. Book a room well ahead, since the small town fills quickly and casas particulares are the main option. The reward is a night you will still be describing to people years later.

💡 HighlightsThe experiences that define the visit

  1. Plaza Martí: the main square and the heart of the night. Both barrios stage their displays around it, and the church of San Juan Bautista looms over the fireworks, so you get the noise, the light and the crowd in one place.
  2. The Carrozas (floats): the barrios spend months building huge illuminated floats with moving parts and themes, and they are hauled into the plaza at night. Up close you see how much handwork goes into them.
  3. Trabajos de plaza: these are the tall decorated wooden structures and light displays built in each barrio’s corner of the square. They are the rival showpieces, and judging which side did better is half the fun.
  4. Fireworks and the Parrandas barrage: homemade pyrotechnics, a lot of them, go off close to the crowd. It is thrilling and deafening, so bring ear protection and
… read more 👉
  1. Plaza Martí: the main square and the heart of the night. Both barrios stage their displays around it, and the church of San Juan Bautista looms over the fireworks, so you get the noise, the light and the crowd in one place.
  2. The Carrozas (floats): the barrios spend months building huge illuminated floats with moving parts and themes, and they are hauled into the plaza at night. Up close you see how much handwork goes into them.
  3. Trabajos de plaza: these are the tall decorated wooden structures and light displays built in each barrio’s corner of the square. They are the rival showpieces, and judging which side did better is half the fun.
  4. Fireworks and the Parrandas barrage: homemade pyrotechnics, a lot of them, go off close to the crowd. It is thrilling and deafening, so bring ear protection and keep your distance from launch points.
  5. Museo de las Parrandas Remedianas: a small museum on Calle Máximo Gómez that explains the history of the tradition, with old photos, costumes and float models. It is the best place to understand the rivalry in daytime when the town is quiet.
Start with the museum in the afternoon, because knowing the history and the barrio colors makes the night in the plaza far easier to follow.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Las Parrandas de Remedios?

Las Parrandas de Remedios are held every year on December 24, with the main night running into the early hours of December 25, in the central square, Plaza Martí, and the streets of Remedios, Villa Clara province.
  • Best night: December 24 is the only night that matters. Daytime is quiet, so arrive by late afternoon to claim a spot near the church before the fireworks and the rival neighborhood floats (San Salvador and El Carmen) appear around midnight.
  • Weather: Expect evenings of 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), mostly dry, with daylight fading early in the evening. Bring a light jacket, closed shoes for firecracker debris, earplugs and a small bag you can hold in front of you.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed in a casa particular or in nearby Santa Clara at least two to three months ahead. Rooms in Remedios can
… read more 👉
Las Parrandas de Remedios are held every year on December 24, with the main night running into the early hours of December 25, in the central square, Plaza Martí, and the streets of Remedios, Villa Clara province.
  • Best night: December 24 is the only night that matters. Daytime is quiet, so arrive by late afternoon to claim a spot near the church before the fireworks and the rival neighborhood floats (San Salvador and El Carmen) appear around midnight.
  • Weather: Expect evenings of 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), mostly dry, with daylight fading early in the evening. Bring a light jacket, closed shoes for firecracker debris, earplugs and a small bag you can hold in front of you.
  • Booking: Reserve a bed in a casa particular or in nearby Santa Clara at least two to three months ahead. Rooms in Remedios can double, from roughly US$25 to 30 up to US$50 to 70 a night.
  • Roads and trains: Roads fill from the afternoon and taxis become scarce after 2 a.m. Arrive the day before, and leave on the morning of December 25 once the shared taxis restart.
Book a return seat for the afternoon of December 25, since mornings after the party are slow.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Cuba

The best base is a casa particular within a few blocks of Parque Martí in Remedios, because the festival happens on foot and nothing in town is more than ten minutes from the plaza.
Staying on the streets around the main square puts you in the middle of the noise, which is the point. You can walk home at 4 a.m. without arranging a ride, and hosts here tend to know exactly when each neighborhood’s big show starts. Solo travelers get the most company in houses that serve a shared breakfast on a patio, where other guests swap plans over coffee.
The San Salvador side and the El Carmen side each have … read more 👉
The best base is a casa particular within a few blocks of Parque Martí in Remedios, because the festival happens on foot and nothing in town is more than ten minutes from the plaza.
Staying on the streets around the main square puts you in the middle of the noise, which is the point. You can walk home at 4 a.m. without arranging a ride, and hosts here tend to know exactly when each neighborhood’s big show starts. Solo travelers get the most company in houses that serve a shared breakfast on a patio, where other guests swap plans over coffee.
The San Salvador side and the El Carmen side each have their own loyal blocks. Choosing a house in one barrio means you will be adopted by its supporters, who will happily explain the rivalry, and you may be handed a scarf in the neighborhood color. Streets nearest the plaza are loudest and best avoided if you need sleep.
If Remedios sells out, the nearby city of Santa Clara has far more rooms and a lively student scene. It is about 45 minutes away by shared taxi, but late-night returns after the fireworks are scarce and costly, so plan to sleep in Remedios if you can. Book early and confirm by message.
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👛 Costs (as of 23 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Las Parrandas de Remedios costs roughly US$58 to 135 per day for an independent traveler during the peak December 24 period.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 10Street celebrations around Parque Martí are open to all; some staged shows or reserved viewing spots may charge a small fee.
AccommodationUS$35 to 70A casa particular room runs higher than usual during the festival, and hosts often want a deposit.
Local transportUS$3 to 15Town is walkable; shared taxis from Santa Clara or Caibarién cost a few dollars per seat, and private cars cost more.
Food & drinksUS$15 to 30Roast pork plates and street snacks are inexpensive; paladar dinners and rum cost more on the 24th.
MiscellaneousUS$5 to 10Earplugs, small tips for hosts and guides, neighborhood souvenirs and the odd extra
… read more 👉
Las Parrandas de Remedios costs roughly US$58 to 135 per day for an independent traveler during the peak December 24 period.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 10Street celebrations around Parque Martí are open to all; some staged shows or reserved viewing spots may charge a small fee.
AccommodationUS$35 to 70A casa particular room runs higher than usual during the festival, and hosts often want a deposit.
Local transportUS$3 to 15Town is walkable; shared taxis from Santa Clara or Caibarién cost a few dollars per seat, and private cars cost more.
Food & drinksUS$15 to 30Roast pork plates and street snacks are inexpensive; paladar dinners and rum cost more on the 24th.
MiscellaneousUS$5 to 10Earplugs, small tips for hosts and guides, neighborhood souvenirs and the odd extra drink.
Total Daily BudgetUS$58 to 135About US$95 for a typical mid-range day.


source: cubatravel.cu
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in Las Parrandas de Remedios

Food at Las Parrandas de Remedios is street-corner and neighborhood-based, with stalls and home kitchens around Parque Martí selling roast pork sandwiches, tamales, fried yuca and croquetas to a crowd that eats standing up.
The thing to chase is lechón asado, pork roasted over coals and sold by the plate with rice, beans and cassava. Many families also set up tables in doorways, so follow the smoke. Ask for guarapo (fresh sugarcane juice) when it is on, and keep room for ron served in plastic cups, often straight over ice. Local Bucanero and Cristal beer come cold from coolers and run out late in the night.
Pay in cash, in small bills, because cards are almost never accepted at the stalls and change is scarce. Lines move slowly around midnight, when everyone wants to eat before the fireworks, … read more 👉
Food at Las Parrandas de Remedios is street-corner and neighborhood-based, with stalls and home kitchens around Parque Martí selling roast pork sandwiches, tamales, fried yuca and croquetas to a crowd that eats standing up.
The thing to chase is lechón asado, pork roasted over coals and sold by the plate with rice, beans and cassava. Many families also set up tables in doorways, so follow the smoke. Ask for guarapo (fresh sugarcane juice) when it is on, and keep room for ron served in plastic cups, often straight over ice. Local Bucanero and Cristal beer come cold from coolers and run out late in the night.
Pay in cash, in small bills, because cards are almost never accepted at the stalls and change is scarce. Lines move slowly around midnight, when everyone wants to eat before the fireworks, so buy your plate early or eat an hour after the peak. Portions are generous and sharing a plate is normal and welcome.
Drinks flow freely among neighbors, and a polite refusal is understood. Bring a bottle of water, since stalls near the plaza sell out and tap water is not for drinking. Paladares off the square fill fast on the 24th, so reserve in the afternoon.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Las Parrandas de Remedios

Las Parrandas de Remedios takes place every year on the night of December 24 in Remedios, Villa Clara province, with the main fireworks and float parade running into December 25. Neighborhood preparations and smaller events begin several days earlier. Santa Clara, about 45 minutes away, is the nearest big city.
Attending Las Parrandas de Remedios is largely free, because the street celebrations around Parque Martí have no general entry fee. Budget roughly US$58 to 135 per day, with a casa particular at US$35 to 70 a night and meals at US$15 to 30. Prices for rooms climb sharply around December 24.
Las Parrandas de Remedios does not require tickets for the main street festivities, so you can walk in on the night. What you do need in advance is a room, ideally booked two to three months ahead, since Remedios has limited beds. Any special seating or staged shows may sell small-priced entries on site.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Cuban festivals near Las Parrandas de Remedios

Explore more nearby:

  • Ciudad Metal Festival—Cuban death and thrash, patch-covered crowd, Santa Clara pit| 44 km away
  • Corhabana—Massed voices, church recitals, Afro-Cuban choirs, Havana theaters| 297 km away
  • Havana Jazz Festival—Basement jazz club, Vedado theaters, late jam sessions| 297 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Las Parrandas de Remedios works best as one stop in a longer loop, so I would pair it with Santa Clara for its city energy and a few quiet days on the northern cays afterward to recover. Book your bed early, and I would bring earplugs, since the fireworks do not ease off.

✈️ When did I visit Cuba?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Cuba for 6 weeks in February, March 2016, being extremely lucky that that coincided with the free concert of The Rolling Stones.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Cuba, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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