| As anyone who has been lucky enough to go on | | | | one giant conga line in July each year, and the carnival |
| holiday in Cuba will probably tell you, the Cubans really | | | | in this city attracts the biggest crowd on the island. |
| know how to throw a party! The island is a vibrant | | | | The street parties go on all night, and music, dance, |
| centre of dance, art and music, and the blend of | | | | traditional Cuban food and spectacular street displays |
| Spanish and Caribbean cultures has given rise to a | | | | are all there to be enjoyed by visitors on their Cuban |
| number of international festivals and annual carnivals | | | | holidays. |
| that are a real treat for visitors and locals alike. | | | | Las Parrandas de Remedios |
| There are numerous great events going on | | | | Those who go on Cuba holidays at Christmas are |
| throughout the year in Cuba; holidays to the island will | | | | rewarded with a unique experience - Las Parrandas |
| usually coincide with a festival or two if you are | | | | de Remedios, a festival on the 24th of December |
| lucky. But there are some events that it is well worth | | | | that has been running for almost 200 years. Legend |
| planning your holiday in Cuba around: here are five of | | | | goes that a priest in 19th century Remedios sent |
| the biggest and best... | | | | children into the streets of the city to make as much |
| International Jazz Festival | | | | noise as they could and drive the locals to mass. The |
| There are plenty of jazz festivals that you can go to | | | | residents took it as a cue to take to the streets and |
| while on holiday in Cuba, but the biggest is the | | | | have a good time! Nowadays the festival takes the |
| International Jazz Festival, held every February in | | | | form of a "parrandas", or competition between the |
| Havana. Starting out as a little local event at the Casa | | | | two neighbourhoods of El Carmen and San Salvador. |
| de la Cultura de Plaza in 1978, the festival now holds | | | | Each neighbourhood competes to construct the most |
| events in theatres and nightclubs all over Havana, | | | | spectacular float, surrounded by lanterns and kites, |
| with the famed Chucho Valdes as its artistic director. | | | | and on the evening of Christmas Eve the two sides |
| Havana Carnival | | | | go head to head in a parade, accompanied by a |
| July is Carnival season in Cuba; holidays to the island | | | | spectacular fireworks display. |
| in this month are very popular for just this reason. | | | | International Havana Ballet Festival |
| Carnivals in Cuba mean street parties, floats, | | | | Cuba may be more famous for Salsa and Mambo |
| processions, dancing, music, and plenty of Cuban rum! | | | | than for ballet, but the International Havana Ballet |
| Every neighbourhood in Havana has its own Carnival | | | | Festival, which runs from the 24th of October to the |
| float and practices for months to perfect their | | | | 6th of November every two years, is a major |
| routine, and visitors to the island at this time of year | | | | international event for ballet lovers. The best |
| are treated to a riot of colour, sound and all night | | | | companies come from all over the world to perform |
| parties. | | | | at the Great Theatre of Havana, which has seen |
| Santiago de Cuba Carnival | | | | almost 200 world premieres since the festival began |
| The Carnival in Havana is a massive event, but its | | | | in 1960. If you have any interest at all in ballet, a |
| counterpart in Santiago de Cuba is potentially even | | | | Cuban holiday at this time of year is a must. |
| bigger and better. The whole city seems to turn into | | | | |