Events in Santa Rosa de Copán

Holy Week:
Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is celebrated the week before Easter. Throughout Holy Week, you will find Santa Rosa bursting with religious activities in the cathedral and historic city center. The highlight of Holy Week is the lining of the streets with decorative carpets made of sand, flowers and seeds called alfombras. The local churches create these amazing pieces of art early in the morning, and by afternoon all are swept away, as elaborate parades and processions wind through the streets, destroying the carpets as they pass. The most important parade is the Via Crucis on Friday morning, where a statue of Jesus is carried through town.

Read all about the process of creating the Holy Week Carpets HERE!!

Earth Day:
On the 1st of June, the local kindergartens, dressed up as different plants and animals, participate in a parade to promote environmental conservation.

Feria Agostina:
The Feria Agostina takes place every August. Feria Agostina brings the most national tourists to travel to Santa Rosa of any festival throughout the year. Activities include: the election of the queen of the fair and the queen of tobacco, military games, presentations from the diverse cultural groups of Santa Rosa, parades and carnivals, dances and balls, competition for the best dressed and ugliest pet, painting expositions, sporting competitions, local food, horse-drawn carriages, masquerades and an industrial fair. In addition, the army hosts weaponry and equipment expositions and demonstrations of military skills such as parachuting.

La Feria Patronal:
As part of the attractions that take place in August in honor of the patron saint of the municipality, the Virgin of Santa Rosa de Lima, the city celebrates their saints' fair, which brings together artisans, businessmen and the community, generating an important influx of both national and international tourists.

La Feria de los Llanos:
This fair promotes the revival of the cultural values of Santa Rosa de Copán and the municipal villages. It is a typical artisan fair organized by the tourism commission and celebrated 3 times a year, in August, during Holy Week and in December. At this fair, the visitor is able to choose from a diverse selection of artisan goods made by artists of Western Honduras, enjoy typical regional food and be entertained by a variety of cultural activities such as traditional games and presentations from various cultural groups.

Juegos Florales:
Juegos Florales is a literary competition that includes stories, novels and poetry. It takes place every year during the Feria Agostina in the Cultural House.

Feria de Ganaderos:
The Feria de Ganaderos is an exposition of cattle that takes place in the field AGAC (Association of Ranchers of Copan) located in Colonia Miraflores. The event takes place every year in August during the feria Agostina. A t this exposition you can purchase agricultural, artisan and commercial products, such as clothing, shoes and games. Inside the stadium, you will find a mechanical bull, food and drink stands and dance floors.

Tarde con Aroma de Café:
Tarde con Aroma de Café, or An Afternoon of Coffee, is an event during the Feria Agostina that promotes the rich tradition of coffee farming in Western Honduras. Attendees participate in a full coffee "catación" or coffee tasting, sampling different coffees of the region, focusing on the excellent fragrances and flavors of the beans. Small coffee companies of the area are able to exhibit their brands, and local coffee shops offer free samples of their products.

Noche de Fumadores:
Noche de Fumadores, or Smokers' Evening, takes place every year in August. This is an elegant event that has attracted many visitors to the city to hear about the history of Santa Rosan tobacco and learn about the industry today.  Every year, this event has been more and more successful, and visitors from all over the country and region come to enjoy fine cigars with their friends in an exclusive and friendly atmosphere.  The cost of entrance includes a complementary cigar, food, drink, promotions and raffles, and live music.

Quincena Cívica:
Every year from September 1-15, Honduras and Santa Rosa celebrate Independence Day. Each night in the central park, you can participate in various civic and cultural events. Also, there are parades down the main street put on by the various educational institutions in Santa Rosa.