# Festivals and seasons in Panama Panama’s year runs from the coffee and flower fair of Boquete and the Thousand Polleras Parade in January, through Carnival in February or March and Corpus Christi in May or June, to the folk festivals of Azuero in September. Humpback whales pass the Pacific coast from July to October. [Free consultation](/contact/) [Photo: Elvis A. Mora, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-person-in-a-pink-and-white-dress-in-a-river-with-a-pink-and-white-fish-jumping-out-pLRuWGXPzeE?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)· [Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)January ### Thousand Polleras Parade The tourism authority’s parade of the pollera, the national dress, in Las Tablas, on the second Saturday of January. It moves to the next weekend when that Saturday is January 9, Martyrs’ Day. In 2026 it was on January 17. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/eventos-comerciales-y-recursos/desfile-de-las-mil-polleras/) [Photo: BETZY AROSEMENA, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/green-mountains-under-blue-sky-during-daytime-PxXWXsHTBCY?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)· [Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)January ### Flower and Coffee Fair Ten to twelve days of gardens, parades and coffee tastings by the Caldera River in Boquete. The 2024 fair ran from January 11 to 21. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/calendario/feria-de-las-flores-y-del-cafe-de-boquete/) [Photo: Steven(Esteban) J Golliday, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carnaval_Las_Tablas_7.jpg)· [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)February or March ### Carnival in Las Tablas The four days before Ash Wednesday, all over Panama and above all in Las Tablas, where Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo compete with queens in gala polleras and meet at dawn on Ash Wednesday. In 2027 it falls on February 6 to 9, by our calculation from the date of Easter. [Official source](https://micultura.gob.pa/2026/02/16/el-topon-tableno-el-encuentro-final-que-resume-la-esencia-del-carnaval-de-las-tablas/) March ### David International Fair The farm and trade fair of Chiriquí. In 2023 it ran from March 16 to 23. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FERIAS-Y-FESTIVALES-2023-1.pdf) March or April ### Boquete Orchid Expo An orchid show in Boquete. In 2023 it ran from March 30 to April 9. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FERIAS-Y-FESTIVALES-2023-1.pdf) [Photo: John Vallarino A., Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fuerte_Santiago_de_la_Gloria,_Portobelo.jpg)· [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)All year; the Pollera Congo festival in early May ### Congo culture in Portobelo The ritual and festive expressions of the Congo culture on the Caribbean coast, on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage since 2018: the little devils, the Congo queen and the water parade. [Official source](https://micultura.gob.pa/2026/05/02/portobelo-celebra-la-esencia-del-7-festival-de-la-pollera-conga/) [Photo: Paul Peterson, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DANZA_DE_LOS_DIABLICOS_SUCIOS.jpg)· [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)May or June ### Corpus Christi Ritual dances of devils and sawdust carpets in La Villa de Los Santos and Parita, on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage since 2021. In 2027 the main Thursday falls on May 27, by our calculation. [Official source](https://micultura.gob.pa/2026/05/23/inicia-el-ciclo-festivo-del-corpus-christi-en-la-villa-de-los-santos/) July ### National Pollera Festival The festival of the national dress in Las Tablas. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FERIAS-Y-FESTIVALES-2023-1.pdf) [Photo: Franz Schäfer, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/an-aerial-view-of-a-tropical-island-with-a-white-sand-beach-0OMc3Vu-rF0?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)· [Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)Whales July to October; turtles July to November ### Whales, turtles and national parks Humpback whales off the Pacific coast: the tourism board gives July to September on one page and July to October on another, with September as the best month. Boats must stay 250 m away. Turtles nest from July to November at Isla Cañas, La Marinera and Pablo Barrios. [Official source](https://www.tourismpanama.com/outdoors-and-nature/wildlife/whale-watching/) August ### Manito Festival The rural folk festival of Ocú, in Herrera. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FERIAS-Y-FESTIVALES-2023-1.pdf) [Photo: RicardoAndres39, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PATRONA_DE_GUARAR%C3%89_LA_MERCED.jpg)· [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)September ### National Mejorana Festival One of the main folk festivals of the country, with music, dance and crafts, in Guararé. In 2026 it ran from September 19 to 28. [Official source](https://micultura.gob.pa/2026/09/16/ministerio-de-cultura-respalda-el-festival-nacional-de-la-mejorana-de-guarare/) September ### Flower Parade A flower parade in Volcán. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FERIAS-Y-FESTIVALES-2023-1.pdf) September ### Sea Fair The island’s sea fair on Isla Colón. In 2023 it ran from September 13 to 17. [Official source](https://www.atp.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FERIAS-Y-FESTIVALES-2023-1.pdf) [Photo: Azzedine Rouichi, Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/an-old-building-with-scaffolding-on-the-side-of-it-tfRbIDD4xHk?utm_source=iurispa&utm_medium=referral)· [Unsplash License](https://unsplash.com/license)All year ### Panamá Viejo and the Casco Antiguo The ruins of the first city, founded in 1519, and the walled colonial town, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. [Official source](https://www.tourismpanama.com/places-to-visit/panama-city/) [Photo: Adam Jones, Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Locomotives_Tow_Container_Ship_through_Miraflores_Locks_-_Panama_Canal.jpg)· [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)All year ### Biomuseo, Canal Museum and Miraflores The Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry, has eight galleries on how the isthmus formed. The Canal Museum is in the Casco Antiguo, and the Miraflores visitor center has terraces to watch the ships, 15 minutes from downtown. [Official source](https://www.tourismpanama.com/culture-cuisine/historical-sites/biomuseo/) Dates come from the Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Culture and UNESCO. Where the next date is not published yet we give the month and the last confirmed dates; the 2027 dates of Carnival and Corpus Christi are our calculation from the date of Easter. Check the official source before you travel. Planning to spend a festival season here while your residency is processed? Ask us how long you can stay as a visitor. [Free consultation](/contact/) ## Planning your retirement in Panama? Book a free 15-minute call. We will check your pension and tell you exactly what you need. 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