San Sebastián Street Festival: The Party of the Year
The 2025 FIESTAS DE LA CALLE SAN SEBASTIAN wil be held 16-19 January 2025.
It is no secret that people in Puerto Rico know how to party, especially around the Christmas holidays. Announce that there will be a parade, music, dancing, libations, food — then add in local artisan crafts for sale — and it all adds up to one crazy celebration!
That is the usual San Sebastián Street Festival (Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián) in a nutshell. It has been an annual event on Calle San Sebastián in Old San Juan since 1970, and what started as community fund-raiser has become THE festival to go to. Loads of locals and tourists attend this multi-day event.
Early Festivals
San Sebastián (Saint Sebastian) was a Christian who was martyred for his faith. There is a street on the north side of Old San Juan named in his honor.
The original "festival" (in the 1950’s) was organized by a priest at the San Jose Church, which is located on San Sebastián Street, to celebrate the feast day of San Sabastián. The annual feast-day festival lasted only a few years.
In 1970, the festival was restarted and it has been held annually ever since. It always occurs around San Sebastián’s feast day, which is January 20th. The festival is typically held on the third weekend of January, and usually runs from Thursday to Sunday. Always double check exact dates before making vacation plans around these dates as things have been known to change from year to year.
San Se Today
The San Se Festival has evolved over time, though it still is full of tradition and Puerto Rican cultural heritage. Mostly, it is a great big party, with people enjoying every aspect of it. It is attended by hundreds of thousands of people, who are very much part of the entertainment scene.
Folks lucky enough to have a birds-eye view line the colorful balconies along Calle San Sebastián, and on the rest of the parade route, watching and shouting to the throngs of people in the streets below. Everyone else hits the streets. It’s basically the Puerto Rican version of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, without the beads and breasts.
For 2025, the festival will be held from Thursday, January 16 through Sunday, January 19.
There are lots of live music shows, both traditional and contemporary. The musicians perform on stages around the Old City , but the main stage is at the Plaza del Quinto Centenario. But also expect music/dance to happen randomly & spontaneously throughout the streets, where people join in the song and dance. There are plenty of dance performances, both folkloric and modern, by professionals and party-goers alike. And all along the parade routes you will find food, drink, and artisans displaying/selling their works.
Itinerary for 2025 Festival
The closing hours are
- stages will close by 11pm
- kiosks will close by 12midnight
- businesses will close by 1am
Music Schedule
schedule from San Juan, Ciudad Capital on Facebook
Public Transportation To/From Old San Juan- This still needs 2025 info
The Department of Transportation is expecting record-breaking attendance at the festivities in Old San Juan over the four days. It is highly recommended that you use public transportation versus trying to drive into Old San Juan.Parking garages fill up EARLY and then roads are closed.
The ferry between Cataño and Old San Juan will operate all four days of the festival. The cost is $1 per person round-trip. Tickets will only be sold at the Cataño terminal or online at www.PuertoRicoFeryy.com. The ferry schedule is
- Thursday from 5:30am to 2am
- Friday from 5:30am to 3am
- Saturday from 7:30am to 3am
- Sunday from 7:30am to 2am
The following AMA buses will operate their usual routes and schedule. The Public AMA buses are free.
- 9 – Cupey- San Juan, 21 – Sagrado Corazón- San Juan, 5 – Iturregui – San Juan, 53 – San Juan – Aeropuerto, 37 – Bayamón – Cataño, 4 – Piñero – Cataño
- Thursday and Friday from 5am – 9pm
- Saturday only (NOT on Sunday) from 5am to 8pm
The following AMA buses will operate special schedule for Fiesta-goers. These are also free.
- • T-3- From the Sagrado Corazón station to the Covadonga bus terminal in Old San Juan (with several stops in between) until 3:00 a.m.
- • E-10- From the Sagrado Corazón station to the Covadonga bus terminal in Old San Juan, until 3:00 a.m.
- E-20 (Urban Metro) From the Campanilla terminal in Toa Baja to the Bayamón station of the Tren Urbano, until 3:00 a.m. This terminal has ample free parking and security.
- • E-30- From the Caguas public bus terminal to the Cupey station of the Tren Urbano, until 3:00 a.m.
The Urban Train will be operating on a regular schedule 5:30am until 11:30 p.m. for those who wish to arrive at the Sagrado Corazón station and take municipal or private transportation. However, after 11:30pm you can only take the train from Sagrado Corazón Station to Bayamón and it will run until around 2:00 a.m. Parking at the Train Urbano parking lots is free.
There will be special buses or Guaguas from the Sagrado Corazón urban train station and Hiram Bithorn Stadium into Old San Juan (to the Capitol building). Round trip bus fee is $5. Parking at Hiram Bithorn Fee is $5. The bus schedule is
- Thursday and Friday from 2pm to 2am
- Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 2am
Uber and taxis will operate as usual. They will drop off in the vicinity of the Hacienda building (or nearby) in Old San Juan.
Parking & Public Restrooms
Parking will be available at a few places in OSJ and SJ. Puntilla lot will NOT be open. Traffic will be a nightmare. Use public transportation. The private parking lots (like Ballaja, Dona Fela, Trecero Milenio etc) will also be open.
Puerto Rico Day Trips LLC assumes no responsibility regarding your safety when participating in the activities described in this article. Please use common sense! If your mother or that little voice in your head tells you that you are about to do something stupid … then don't do it!
