JANUARY

Virgen de Altagracia

January 21, the most important religious day in the Dominican calendar, including a several-day pilgrimage to Higuey.

Duarte Day

Holiday in honour of the Father of the Country, with public fiestas in all major towns on January 26.

FEBRUARY

Carnival

The pre-eminent celebration of the year, held on every Sunday in February and culminating on February 27. The biggest festival is in La Vega, with Santo Domingo a close second.

Independence Day

Celebration of independence from Haiti and the culmination of the Dominican Carnival (Feb 27). The place to be is Santo Domingo.

APRIL

Semana Santa

The Christian Holy Week (variable, usually early to mid-April) is also the most important week of Haitian and Dominican vodú . Festivals take place in the Haitian bateyes and in Haina.

MAY

Espiritu Santo

Huge celebrations in the capital's barrio Villa Mella, pueblo Santa María near San Cristóbal and the El Pomier caves, and San Juan de la Maguana - held seven weeks after Semana Santa.

JUNE

San Pedro Apostol

A magnificent Cocolo festival in San Pedro de Macorís on June 29, with roving bands of guloyas performing dance dramas on the street.

AUGUST

Festival of the Bulls

Higuey's fiesta patronal (Aug 14), with processions coming into the city from all sides - some from as far as 30km - with cowboys on horseback and large herds of cattle.

DECEMBER

Christmas

Guloya festivals in San Pedro de Macorís, Haitian Voodoo celebrations in the Haitian bateyes and rural groups of Caribbean-style Navidad carollers in the campos (Dec 25).

Festival of the Bulls

Traditional cattle festival in Bayaguana (Dec 28)