Navidad in Plaza España 2017

Dominican Republic Holiday Events 2018

It’s Christmas time! Navidad en República Dominicana / Christmas in Dominican Republic is a special time of year. Starting in October and ending in mid-January there is always something happening during the holiday season. Here is some of the good stuff going on. I will add to the list as I find new happenings.

Would you like to learn how Dominicans celebrate Christmas in Dominican Republic / Navidad en República?

Navidad in Plaza España 2017

Navidad in Plaza España 2017

Continuing Events

-Enjoy the View – Make sure to walk around the Colonial Zone and other parts of the city and see all the
Christmas decorations and lights. Each barrio usually decorates in their own unique way. Take the time to enjoy the season.

-Drinking Hours – The Ministry of Interior and Police announced that it is lifting alcohol sales restrictions from Saturday December 1 and will end Monday January 7, 2019. Have a good time and be careful out there. The hours for all Bars, Discotheques, Restaurants, Colmados and other businesses selling alcoholic beverages are non existent. These establishments can be open for as long as they wish with no closing time restrictions.

Christmas / Navidad at the Palacio Nacional

Christmas / Navidad at the Palacio Nacional (image thank you Listin Diario)

-Christmas at the Palacio Nacional Open To The Puplic / Presidential Palace – Be sure to pass by the National Palace in Gazcue and see the show of lights in the palace gardens. This year there are 2 decorated 20-foot Charamicos (a Dominican style white Christmas Tree one of the many traditional Christmas decorations), the traditional
Creche and more. The Presidential Palace will be open to the general public beginning on November 30, 2018 til January 7, 2019 so all can enjoy the decorations that include beautifully lit-up gardens and the giant Christmas tree in the lobby.
Visiting hours are daily from 6:30 PM to 9 PM, except on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.

-Vive la Navidad in Parque Mirador del Este – December 7, 2018 to January 5, 2019
Santo Domingo Este presents “Vive la Navidad” lights spectacular at the Parque del Este. The park will be open to the public from 6 pm to 12 midnight. there are over 2,400,000 little lights. There are tunnels of lights decorated with a dazzling entrance, trees, flowers, children’s village and decorative elements illuminated with the bright colors of the most anticipated time of the year. with tunnels decorated by
colorful lights. (Parque del Este estará iluminado con 2 millones 400 mil bombillitos, puertas de entradas y salidas simulando el acceso a un parque mágico, túneles de luces decorado con un entrada deslumbrante, arboles, flores, pueblito infantil y elementos decorativos iluminados con los brillantes colores de la época más esperada del año.). There are also lighted castles, displays of the birth of the child Jesus, love area and family union with giant hearts, typical Dominican houses with lighting effects, Santa’s house, Christmas ball and a food area. More information Ayuntamiento Municipal Santo Domingo Este.

– El Milagro de la Navidad.The tradition continues at Banco Popular as the employees present The Christmas Nativity Story in the parking lot of the Plazoleta de la Torre Popular, Avenida John F. Kennedy, Santo Domingo. It is happening on Sunday 9, 16, 23 and on Tuesday the 25th at 6:30 PM. Admission is free.

-Christmas plays courtesy of The Districto Nacional of Santo Domingo. Saturday and Sundays in December at the amphitheater of the Parque Iberoamericano next door to the National Music Conservatory. Free to the public every Saturday and Sunday starting at 7:30PM. The Saturday (dates are 15, 22 and 29) – “Aladino” and Sunday (dates are 16, 23 and 29) – “En Espera del Mesías”. Get there early to ensure entrance.

Events

La Gran Gala de Navidad 2018

La Gran Gala de Navidad 2018

November 30

-La Gran Gala de Navidad 2018 – Great Christmas Gala, with the participation of Milly, and José Antonio Molina and his Orquesta Filarmónica Molina. Listín Diario and la Alcaldía del Distrito Nacional present the spectacular at Plaza España November 30, 2018 at 8PM. The event is free.

December 1 – Saturday
-Mercado Navideño Alemán y Multicultural / German and Multicultural Christmas Market – Lots of great German food cooked fresh on the barbeque, drinks, crafts and pet supplies. Hours: 11 AM to 7 PM – Centro Dominico-Aleman (across from Banco Reservas), Calle Isabel La Católica #212, Colonial Zone

-The Belkis Sandoval Dance Academy presents The Nutcracker, a classical piece of universal ballet. The Nutcracker is based on the tale of Hoffman, with music by Tchaikovsky at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Maximo Aviles Blonda room, on December 1st and 2nd in Santo Domingo. December 1st: 7:00pm

The Belkis Sandoval Dance Academy presents The Nutcracker Dec. 1 and 2, 2018

The Belkis Sandoval Dance Academy presents The Nutcracker Dec. 1 and 2, 2018

December 2 – Sunday

-The Belkis Sandoval Dance Academy presents The Nutcracker, a classical piece of universal ballet.
The Nutcracker is based on the tale of Hoffman, with music by Tchaikovsky at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Maximo Aviles Blonda room, on December 1st and 2nd in Santo Domingo. December 2nd: 6:00pm

December 9 – Sunday

-“La Noche Buena del Hombrecito” – El Hombrecito, Vic Contreras & La Alucinante Band and Sólo Fernández will be playing at Colmado Familiar, Calle Sanchez and Padre Billini, Colonial Zone. The music starts at 6PM.

La Noche Buena del Hombrecito 2018

La Noche Buena del Hombrecito Dec. 9, 2018

December 14 – Friday
-Lucia 203, Calle Hostos 203, Colonial Zone, celebrates the legacy of Maestro Felix del Rosario. Los Magos del Ritmo Orchestra. Del Rosario is known for his Christmas Merengue songs: “Llegó la Navidad”, Alegre Vengo”, “Cascabel”, Las Navidades” and more. Show starts at 9PM. Tickets are for sale at Meson de Bari and Ticket Express.

December 15 – Saturday

-Mercado Navideño Aleman / German Christmas Market at the Centro Dominico-Aleman on Calle Isabel La Católica #212 almost across form BancoReservas and Plaza España, Zona Colonial. Lots of German food, crafts and other items for sale. Saturday from 10 AM – 6 PM ??.

– CANCELED – Noche Largas De Bares / Long Night Of Bars
ABZOCOL (Asociación de Bares de la Zona Colonial) announces that all the bars of the Colonial Zone will have extended hours. There will be lots of specials and fun events. Enjoy the night!

-La Noche Larga de los Museos – The Ministerio de Cultura presents another Long Night of Museums from 10AM to 12PM. The museums of the Colonial Zone are free of charge to all the public. There will be many cultural activities in the streets and also in Plaza España.

There will be a great show paying tribute to those who spread the merengue around the world in Plaza España. The singers Eddy Manuel and Ileana Reynoso, accompanied by the Orchestra of Dioni Fernández and the Conjunto Quisqueya will perform a rich repertoire that will include 60 years of merengue, which will include songs by artists such as Billo Frómeta, Alberto Beltrán, Ángel Viloria y su Conjunto Típico Cibaeño, Francisco Alberto Simó Damirón y Negrito Chapuseaux, Luis Kalaff y sus Alegres Dominicanos, Primitivo Santos, Joseíto Mateo, Milly, Joselyn y Los Vecinos, La Gran Manzana, Jossie Esteban y la Patrulla 15, The New York Band and el Conjunto Quisqueya. In 2016, Merengue was declared to be Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO)

-National Youth Symphony Orchestra at Galeria 360 – They will be playing Christmas carols, conducted by Maestro Alberto Rincón, in a free concert at the Galeria 360 shopping mall in the center lobby starting at 6PM. Galeria 360, Av. John F. Kennedy, Santo Domingo.

December 17 – Monday

Tradicional Concierto Navidad 2018 del Coro Nacional Dominicano

Tradicional Concierto Navidad 2018 del Coro Nacional Dominicano

-Tradicional Concierto Navidad / Christmas Concert 2018 del Coro Nacional Dominicano at the Convento de los Dominicos in front of Parque Duarte, Colonial Zone. The concert is free and starts at 8PM. If you want a seat you have to get there very very early.

December 21 – Friday

-Jazz Christmas Concert. Saxophone player Sandy Gabriel and his Pop Jazz Ensemble Orchestra will be at the Café Teatro of Casa de Teatro at 9PM. Tickets for sale at the Casa de Teatro box office.

December 24 – Noche Buena

-Many businesses are closed for this special family day. Some businesses do open later in the evening after the evening meal. Have a blessed Christmas Eve.

-Midnight Mass/ La Misa del Gallo – is celebrated at 10PM in the Cathedral de Santa Maria in front of Parque Colón on Christmas Eve/ Noche Buena

December 25 – Christmas Day

-Christmas Day. Some businesses may open late or not at all to rest after a busy Christmas Eve.

-Christmas Day Choral Concert in the Cathedral de Santa Maria starting at 8PM. Get there hours early if you want a seat inside. The choir will be singing traditional religious Christmas songs.

December 28 – Friday

-Tribute to Juan Luis Guerra at Casa de Teatro, Arzobispo Meriño – 10PM. Tickets are RD$800 at the Casa de Teatro box office.

December 30 – Sunday

-Grupo Bonyé starting at 5PM, as always, at the Ruinas de San Francisco.

December 31 – Año Nuevo / New Year’s Eve

-New Year’s Mass/ la Misa de Año Nuevo at 11PM in the Cathedral de Santa Maria.

Rally del Borracho 2018

Rally del Borracho 2018

-New Years Eve / Año Nuevo “Rally del Borracho” The 48th Anniversary of this giant street party starts at 10AM Monday December 31, 2018 until the rising of the sun on January 1, 2019 or until the last man (or woman) is left standing. A map and more information about the Rally del Borracho from an old post.

-The 9th Edition of New Year’s Party 2019 presents
Los Hermanos Rosario,
Yiyo Sarante y Musicólogo. Tickets and more information at UEPA or call for reservations (809)979-2597.

-Casa de Teatro at the Café Teatro. New Year’s Eve party with live music starting 10PM.

Janurary 3 – Sunday

-Grupo Bonyé starting at 5PM, as always, at the Ruinas de San Francisco.