One of the South Caribbean’s biggest cultural celebrations returns Saturday as the Wolaba Parade fills the main street of Puerto Viejo with music, dancing, colorful costumes and more than 30 participating groups. The 12th edition of the parade begins at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Supermercado El Diamante. Participants will travel along Puerto Viejo’s main road before finishing at Super Puerto Viejo, near the entrance to the community.
This year’s theme is “BIG PARADE – Feel the Vibes,” with groups and delegations from different communities taking part in a celebration centered on Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean heritage. Visitors can expect music, dancing, traditional and creative costumes, and performances throughout the route. A community float will close the parade.
The event comes during Costa Rica’s Historical Month of Afro-Descendant People and just two days before Costa Rica marks the Day of the Black Person and Afro-Costa Rican Culture on August 31. For Puerto Viejo, however, Wolaba is much more than another festival aimed at visitors.
The parade was created by members of the community in 2013 as a way for local families, musicians, dancers and cultural groups to take over the streets and celebrate their heritage themselves. It has since grown into one of the most recognizable cultural events on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast.
The name itself is closely tied to Puerto Viejo. “Wolaba” comes from Limonese Creole and is a local version of “Old Harbor,” the English meaning of Puerto Viejo. Organizers say the parade continues to depend heavily on community support. Local businesses, organizations, entrepreneurs, sponsors and volunteers help with everything from logistics to food and accommodations for participants.
That support has not always been guaranteed. The event was unable to take place in 2024 because organizers could not raise enough money, but it returned the following year. Saturday’s parade marks its 12th edition and 13 years since the event was first created. The celebration also gives travelers a chance to see a side of Puerto Viejo that goes well beyond the beaches, surfing and nightlife for which the town is widely known.
Afro-Caribbean culture has shaped much of the identity of Costa Rica’s Caribbean, including its food, music, language and traditions. Events throughout August are meant both to celebrate those traditions and to recognize the contributions of Afro-descendant communities to Costa Rican history.
With more than 30 groups expected on Saturday, anyone staying in Puerto Viejo should expect the center of town to be considerably busier than on a normal weekend. As we mentioned at the beginning, The Wolaba Parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 29, at Supermercado El Diamante and continues along Puerto Viejo’s main street to Super Puerto Viejo.
