Festivals of Dominican Republic

Cabarete Alegría, is held in February and consists of weekend events such as bike races, kite-flying events and sand-castle building contests.

Carnival is a pre-Lent celebration observed in February leading up to Fat Tuesday, with a colorful parade of costumed dancers and floats. Although celebrations can be found throughout the island, Santo Domingo is the place for Carnival in the Domincan Republic.

For over 25 years, leading chefs from the Dominican Republic's hotels and restaurants have participated in the Festival Gastronomico Dominicano to raise money for charity.

The Merengue Festival in Santo Domingo attracts this genre's best talent from around the world. The area is consumed the country's national music and dance.

The three day Presidente Festival de Música Latina that attracts Latin music's top performers is held in Santo Domingo in June. The festival takes place every other year on odd number years.

The Dominican Republic's second Carnival begins August 15, to coincide with Restoration Day (when the country declared war on Spain). More sedate than the March celebrations, costumed participants still abound.