Belize Events and Festivals

Fiesta de Carnaval (February)

Fiesta de Carnaval, or the Belize Carnival, is held the week before Lent begins. The most boisterous celebrations erupt in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, and feature a traditional flour fight, so don't be surprised if you emerge from the fray covered in colorful flour.

Other features of this loud celebration include singing, dancing, parades, a painting competition, and special group dances called comparas. Make sure you don't wear anything that you don't mind getting a little dirty as the flour fight is sure to coat all of your belongings in the colorful powder.

Baron Bliss Day (March)

In honor of Sir Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, the fourth Baron Bliss of the Kingdom of Portugal who died offshore of Belize of food poisoning after changing his will to leave two million dollars to the country, this Belize City holiday features a sailboat race as well as horse races and kiting competitions.

While you're there, be sure to check out the Baron Bliss Memorial Lighthouse and Park in the Fort George area and visit the late Bliss' tomb under the lighthouse overlooking the harbor entrance to the city.

Easter Week (March)

Easter in Belize is a weeklong holiday where visitors can expect nationwide shutdowns as Belizeans attend religious services and take family trips from Good Friday through Easter Monday.

Many towns and cities across Belize feature special reenactments of the crucifixion, the most famous and colorful of which takes place in the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen in western Belize. Additionally, a cross-country cycling expedition is held over Easter week each year.

Belize Lobster Festivals (June and July)

Belize loves lobsters (and most seafood), and during the months of June and July, there are a number of great lobster festivals across the country featuring kabobs, tacos, and fresh-out-of-the-shell lobsters along with music, dancing, pina coladas, and other fresh cocktails and snacks.

Lobster season starts in mid-June with San Pedro Lobsterfest, the newest addition to the Belize Lobsterfest roster; then comes Placencia Lobsterfest in the south held the last weekend of June. Last is Caye Caulker Lobsterfest in early July—a can't-miss party for any lobster enthusiast.

Benque Viejo Del Carmen Fiesta (July)

Held in the Belize and Guatemala border town of Benque Viejo Del Carmen, the Fiesta includes a lively carnival and other attractions. This ​multi-day celebration is commonly known as "Benque" and typically begins on July 1 with a series of religious celebrations called Las Aboradas followed by 15 days of carnival rides, pageants, parades, live music, and a firework show to close out the festivities on July 16.

San Pedro International Costa Maya Festival (August)

Formerly known as the Sea & Air Festival, the Costa Maya Festival in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, is a five-day long Belize event that unites music, dance, cuisine, and other cultural celebrations from the five "Mundo Maya" countries: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

Deer Dance Festival (August)

A uniquely Belizean experience, the Deer Dance Festival is held in the Mayan village of San Antonio in Belize's southern Toledo District. The event features a ritualized dance emulating the hunting of a deer, followed by locals attempting to scale a greased pole.

St. George's Caye Day (September 10)

Honoring Belize's 1798 defeat of the Spaniards in battle, the country celebrates with street festivals and a reenactment of the battle at the actual site.

Other events and festivities that are part of this celebration include the crowning of Miss San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, a children's bicycle race, a fishing tournament, a tug-of-war competition, and plenty of local food and drinks to keep guests happy all day long.

Belize Independence Day (September 21)

Just after the St. George's Caye Day celebration ends, the country of Belize continues its partying to commemorate gaining independence from England in 1981 with a series of colorful parades, processions, and events.

Another great event to check out on this day of celebration is The Expo, a 15,000-person event featuring local vendors, delicious food, dancing, singing, and shopping.

Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19)

Mostly concentrated in Belize's Garifuna settlements, Garifuna Settlement Day celebrates the 1832 arrival of the Garinagu people in Dangriga, Belize by featuring a variety of live punta music.

Started by civil rights activist Thomas Vincent Ramos in 1941, this annual holiday centers around the city of Dangriga where the people who were exiled from the Grenadines by the British army sought refuge.