Panama
ESMy trip
Low sun over a bay, with the coast and vegetation in silhouette.

Panama · Azuero Peninsula: Pedasí, Las Tablas & Chitré

Festivals and folklore

Azuero hosts Panama's best-known traditional festivals: Carnival in February, Corpus Christi in May or June, the Pollera in July and the Mejorana in September.

5 places

  1. 1

    CultureSeasonal

    Las Tablas Carnival

    Parque Porras and the streets of central Las Tablas.38.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    6 to 9
    Booking
    Not stated

    Panama's best-known carnival. For four days, the rival Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo groups compete with queens, floats, music and shows around Parque Porras.

    Only during Carnival: in 2027, from Saturday 6 to Tuesday 9 February. The rest of the year, visit Parque Porras and the Belisario Porras Museum.

    Source: Carnavales 2027 en Panamá: ya hay fecha oficial para las próximas fiestas – La Estrella de Panamá · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    2027 dates: 6 to 9 February (La Estrella de Panamá, Feb. 2026). Hourly program not confirmed by an official source at the time of review.
    Booking
    With the dates already announced, the press recommends planning hotels and transport well ahead.

    Tip: The 2027 queens have already been chosen: Calle Arriba crowns its 72nd queen and Calle Abajo its 66th (La Estrella de Panamá, Mar. 2026).

    Nearby: Las Tablas: Parque Porras and Santa Librada church (0 km) · Belisario Porras Museum (0.1 km) · National Pollera Festival (Las Tablas) (0.1 km)

    Sources: Carnavales 2027 en Panamá: ya hay fecha oficial para las próximas fiestas – La Estrella de Panamá · Calle Arriba y Calle Abajo de Las Tablas ya tienen reinas 2027 – La Estrella de Panamá · Folklore Festivals in Pedasí and Tonosí – Visit Panamá (ATP)

  2. 2

    CultureSeasonal

    Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos

    Central La Villa de Los Santos, around San Atanasio church.62.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Religious festival with dances by masked devils (diablicos) and other figures, theatre, music and decorated street carpets. The dances and expressions of Panama's Corpus Christi have been on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2021.

    Only during the Corpus Christi cycle (May–June). In 2026 it ran from 30 May to 14 June, with the main day on 4 June. 2027 dates not confirmed by an official source at the time of review. The rest of the year, visit the Museum of Nationhood.

    Source: La Villa de Los Santos afina los últimos detalles para el Corpus Christi 2026 – TVN · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    2026 calendar: start on 30 May; "Cuarteo del Sol" on 3 June; main day on 4 June; octave on 11 June; close on 14 June (TVN, 2026).

    Nearby: Museum of Nationhood (La Villa de Los Santos) (0.1 km) · Herrera Museum Fabio Rodríguez Ríos (Chitré) (3.4 km) · Sarigua National Park (11.3 km)

    Sources: La Villa de Los Santos afina los últimos detalles para el Corpus Christi 2026 – TVN · Dances and expressions associated with the Corpus Christi festivity – UNESCO · Folklore Festivals in Pedasí and Tonosí – Visit Panamá (ATP)

  3. 3

    CultureSeasonal

    National Pollera Festival (Las Tablas)

    Las Tablas, Los Santos.38.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Contests devoted to the pollera, Panama's traditional dress, with days for violin, camisilla shirt and painted hat, and accordion.

    Held in July during the Santa Librada patron-saint festivities; 22 July is National Pollera Day. The 2026 edition is over (20–23 July). In January, Las Tablas also hosts the Thousand Polleras Parade.

    Source: Las Tablas se prepara para celebrar el Festival Nacional de la Pollera – TVN · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    2026 program: 20 July, violin contest; 21, camisilla and painted hat; 22, pollera contest; 23, accordion contest (TVN, 2026). 2027 dates not confirmed by an official source at the time of review.

    Tip: In 2025 the main 22 July event moved to the Las Tablas Lions Club because of works at the usual venue, Escuela Modelo Presidente Porras (TVN, 2025).

    Nearby: Las Tablas: Parque Porras and Santa Librada church (0.1 km) · Las Tablas Carnival (0.1 km) · Belisario Porras Museum (0.1 km)

    Sources: Las Tablas se prepara para celebrar el Festival Nacional de la Pollera – TVN · Las Tablas se prepara para el Festival Nacional de la Pollera y las fiestas patronales de Santa Librada – TVN · Las Tablas celebra el Desfile de las Mil Polleras 2026 – Telemetro

  4. 4

    CultureSeasonal

    National Mejorana Festival (Guararé)

    Guararé, Los Santos province, between Chitré and Las Tablas.42.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Folk festival held since 1949 on the initiative of Manuel F. Zárate. It brings together musicians, dancers, craftspeople and folk groups, with mejorana, violin and accordion contests.

    Held in September during the Virgen de las Mercedes festivities. The 2026 edition ran from 19 to 28 September; 2027 dates are not confirmed by an official source at the time of review.

    Source: Ministerio de Cultura respalda el Festival Nacional de la Mejorana de Guararé – MiCultura · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    In 2026 the program included, among others, the traditional atolladera and a children's drum contest on Friday 25 September (Telemetro, 2026).

    Tip: Organizers expected more than 100,000 visitors in 2026: book lodging in Las Tablas or Chitré early.

    Nearby: El Pausílipo House Museum (5.3 km) · National Pollera Festival (Las Tablas) (6 km) · Las Tablas: Parque Porras and Santa Librada church (6 km)

    Sources: Ministerio de Cultura respalda el Festival Nacional de la Mejorana de Guararé – MiCultura · Festival Nacional de la Mejorana 2026: calendario de actividades – Telemetro · Folklore Festivals in Pedasí and Tonosí – Visit Panamá (ATP)

  5. 5

    CultureOpen

    Las Tablas: Parque Porras and Santa Librada church

    Central Las Tablas, Los Santos.38.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Main square of Las Tablas, capital of Los Santos, facing Santa Librada church, a national monument. It is the stage for Carnival and the July patron-saint festivities.

    Source: Los Santos, Panamá – Visit Panamá (ATP) · 2026 · +4

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: The Belisario Porras Museum is on the same square. The Santa Librada festivities and the National Pollera Festival are in July (20–23 July in 2026).

    Nearby: Las Tablas Carnival (0 km) · Belisario Porras Museum (0.1 km) · National Pollera Festival (Las Tablas) (0.1 km)

    Sources: Los Santos, Panamá – Visit Panamá (ATP) · Calle Arriba y Calle Abajo de Las Tablas ya tienen reinas 2027 – La Estrella de Panamá · Museo Belisario Porras – SiCultura (Ministerio de Cultura) · Las Tablas se prepara para celebrar el Festival Nacional de la Pollera – TVN · Iglesia de Santa Librada (Las Tablas) – Wikidata

More guides for this destination