Events on Curacao

On Curacao there are regularly recurring events that you should not miss Curacao is known for its many cultures and diversity. This is reflected in the various festivities that take place there. We have selected 6 for you that come back every year and should not be missed when you are on Curacao!

1. The ‘unox’ new years dive

The 1st day of the new year starts on Curacao with a party on the beach! On January 1, at 12:00, you celebrate the New Year by taking the first dive into the deep, wearing a unox hat. That is something different than the New Year’s dive in the cold North Sea. With an average temperature of 26 degrees, the challenge is not very big, but the New Year’s dive on Curacao is certainly an event that you should not miss. Hot whole beach is filled with guests wearing the orange hat and there is always a nice atmosphere. For the local people it is a fun event where you can wish your friends a happy new year. After the dive there are DJ’s who will make it a great party and you can get a nice cup of soup and then spend the 1st day of the new year relaxed on the Jan Thiel beach.

2. Fuikdag; Sun, Sea, music, snacks, drinks and a flamingo

On the first Sunday of the year, all boats on Curacao sail to Fuik bay for one big party. Everyone takes an inflatable attribute with them to explore the area through the water, visit friends, listen to music and enjoy a drink in the sun, relaxing in your Flamingo. The only way to get to Fuik Bay is by boat. There are many providers that organize trips, but you must book early to be assured of a boat trip to Fuikdag. Our advice is to book your ticket to fuikdag with a reputable company.

3. The event of the year: Carnaval!

The Curacao Carnival is one of the biggest events of the year. Every year the carnival season starts in the first weeks of January. The highlight is the ‘Gran Marcha’ (Grand Parade) and the Farewell Parade. On Sundays there is always the children’s carnival (shortened route and starts elsewhere). There are dozens of carnival groups, each with their own theme. Each group has its own car with music and food. The route is almost 8 km. For a long time and in the heat, the participants also have to alternate every now and then to be able to rest. To participate, participants pay around 500 euros per person. For this they receive the clothing, food, drinks and of course a fantastic experience.

Carnival routes

The parade always starts on the Rooseveltweg in Santa Maria towards the red road in Otrabanda. The route ends at Brionplein in Otrabanda. Along the entire route, thousands of people are cheering and dancing with the groups. There are several tents that offer snacks and drinks and many also bring their own cool boxes and folding chairs. A true Caribbean experience. View all carnival parades on Curacao.

4. The musical event of the year: North Sea Jazz Festival

Since 2010, the North Sea Jazz Festival has been the largest musical event in all of Curacao. People from all over the world come to Curacao especially for this event. Every year the greatest artists come to Curacao especially for this event. In previous years, the line-up consisted of great artists such as Lionel Richie, Enrique Iglesias, The Pointer Sisters and Stevie Wonder. The North Sea Jazz Festival always takes place in the WTC in Piscadera. Are you looking for an accommodation nearby? Stay in accommodation at the Blue Bay Golf and Beach resort. The Blue Bay Golf and Beach resort is less than 10 minutes away from Piscadera.

Program north sea jazz festival

View the full program of the Curacao North Sea Jazz festival, ticket sales and general information about the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival. And look forward to a wonderful evening with beautiful music.

The KLM marathon is now an annual event on Curacao for young and old. There are 5 different walks you can join;

• The cavalier 5 Km which you can do on foot and running,
• The Intertrust 10 Km which you can do on foot and running
• 15K Trail,
• The half marathon and
• The duo marathon.

You walk a very special route. What is normally not allowed, but is allowed on this day, is that the route goes over the Juliana Bridge.

A 3-course dinner for only 55 guilders at the best restaurants on the island and that for a week! The idea behind restaurant week is that restaurants like to show what they have in store. This by presenting a unique 3-course menu. This attracts an audience that might otherwise not go out for dinner so quickly, but now has the opportunity to experience the cuisine of the restaurant in question for a relatively low price.

Many restaurants, all over the island, participate in the restaurant week. You can view all participating restaurants on the restaurant week website. The menus are also listed so that you can see in advance which restaurants serve your favorite dishes. The restaurant week takes place in the month of November.

Entertainment

In addition to the various events, there is something to do on Curacao all year round, every day.

Most common event: Happy hours

Curacao has many happy hours. The most famous happy hours are on Friday afternoon at Chill from 17:00 to 18:00 and afterwards you can go to the adjacent bar Wet and Wild which has a happy hour from 17:30 to 19:00 and serves free BBQ snacks. There is also a happy hour at Wet and Wild on Sundays from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. On Saturday afternoon from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM everyone comes to Zanzibar in Jan Thiel where you can enjoy live music while enjoying your Amstel Bright. You can visit Hemingway on Mambo beach on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 17:30 to 18:30. Enjoy the live music with your feet in the sand. On the website of curacaopartyguide and pasabon  you can see exactly what to do when, enjoy Curacao to the max!

National Holidays on Curacao

In addition to the events, Curacao also has a number of National Holidays. This means a day off for the locals and most stores will be closed.

• May 1, the day of Labor
• July 2 the day of the flag (dia di bandera)
• October 10, the day of Curacao

After an event, relax in your own holiday home, view our large offer of vacation rentals on Curacao.