Local Events

Check here to learn about some of the traditional events, fiestas, and holidays.  San Salvador is a very social place -- come join the fiesta!   

See also:

Topes - (horse parades)

Cabalgatas - (community horseback rides)

8/23/07 - Last Saturday we went to a "Quince Anos" or 15th Birthday party.  For girls in Costa Rica, it is THE event of your life, probably most closely resembling a coming out party (does anyone still do that?).  It may even be bigger than a wedding, since every girl gets a quince anos party, whereas not everyone bothers to get married.  As you'll see, it's quite similar to a wedding, with attendants, flower girls, fancy ballgowns etc.  Raquel, the birthday girl, is my housekeeper's sister.  




The entire town was invited.  Here's the kids dancing to the DJ.  


I danced with my buddy Elena, who just didn't have an OFF button all night.  


Quite a big court for the birthday girl.  


9/11/05 - Today there was a fundraiser for the school in our neighboring village, La Florida.  

	In addition to the usual soccer game, there was also a performing arts group from the US that gave a benefit performance, all on stilts.
The kids of course had to get involved.  They loved this "lion" character.	As the event went on, the kids got bolder and bolder.
He would let them get closer and closer....	...until he would "roar" and chase them all away.  It was great sport.

4/18/05 - We had a very big weekend here in San Salvador with many community activities all organized to benefit the local school.  

Our friend Jay built a playground for the kids.  We donated the paint and Linda painted the jungle gym.

Jim created the rope climbing section.

The local guys were so impressed with Jim's knot tying skills that they asked him to make new soccer nets.   The playground is the envy of all the other local villages. Something like this is totally unheard of around these parts.
These kids have never seen a seesaw before. It didn't take them long to figure it out.	Corey's wife, Judy, did the fancy decorations.
It was hard to keep the kids off the playground while we were working on it. They also LOVE having their picture taken.
On Saturday the village prepared for the weekend festivities.  Everyone pitched in cooking up pigs & other local delicacies.	Our neighbor, Olman, showing off his fine pig man skills.
On Saturday night there was a "Queen of the Elementary School" pageant.  All the little girls dressed in their finest duds.	Each girl has a designated escort to walk them into the pageant area. Jim was asked to escort this darling.
It's mostly a picture-taking event for the parents.	Here's the nicest thing: the winner is picked by lottery, so no one gets an ego and no one's feelings are hurt.

2/15/05

This weekend there was a festival in San Isidro.  There was an oxcart parade.  Brightly painted oxcarts are a tradition here in Costa Rica.

There was also a carnival with rides.  However, getting on the rides is totally differently here...i.e., there is no semblance of order or control.  Notice the people standing around the edge of the bumper car track. As soon as the ride stops, everyone rushes in at once and and elbows their way into a car.  No one takes tickets, no one really checks anything, and apparently no one really gets hurt. (Are you paying attention, American lawyer-types?)