Festivals and Events in Peru in April
Peruvians rarely miss an opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of a village, town or city. April is a month full of anniversaries; from Chiclayo in the north to Lake Titicaca in the south, there are plenty of opportunities to join in with the celebrations.
April isn’t only about anniversaries. There’s also the El Señor de la Justicia festival, a major Peruvian Paso horse contest and, potentially, Easter celebrations.
March and/or April, Nationwide
Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Easter Day occur in March or April depending on the year. This also affects the dates of associated events such as the Cruces de Porcón procession (held on Palm Sunday) in the Porcón Valley, Cajamarca, and the Señor de los Temblores procession in Cusco (held on East Monday). For more about Holy Week, Easter and related events, see Peru in March.
Note: In 2015, Easter Sunday is on April 5. Check future dates here: When Is Easter?
April 15 to 22 (exact dates may vary each year), Mamacona, Lima
The annual Official National Peruvian Paso Horse Contest is a big event on Peru’s equestrian calendar. The multiday event features the best Peruvian Paso horses in the country -- horses considered to be among the most elegant in the world. The contest takes place in Mamacona, located in the Pachacámac district of Lima.
April 9, Amantani District, Puno
The district of Amantani in Puno includes the islands of Amantani and Taquile on Lake Titicaca. Since its creation in 1965, the islanders have established an increasingly popular anniversary festival. The anniversary celebrations typically last for at least three days, with both national and international visitors enjoying numerous cultural and sporting events, regional food and drink and, of course, the crowning of the Señorita Amantani beauty queen.
April 18, Chiclayo
Chiclayo, located on the north coast of Peru, was officially declared a city on April 18, 1835. Despite having been occupied in pre-Columbian times, April 18 remains the city’s official anniversary. The festivities often last for more than a week, with a full schedule of events including gastronomic fairs, musical performances, traditional dances, beauty pageants and fireworks. Overall, it’s a good time to be in Chiclayo.
April 22, Callao, Lima Metropolitan Area
On April 22, 1857, the city of Callao was declared a Constitutional Province. Despite being part of the larger Lima Metropolitan Area, the port city proudly retains its own identity. The anniversary celebrations include numerous public events, including history and art exhibitions, civic and military parades and a Te Deum mass.
April 25, Ayacucho
Francisco Pizarro founded the Spanish colonial settlement of San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga on April 25, 1540. In 1825, Simón Bolívar renamed the city Ayacucho in honor of the Battle of Ayacucho, a decisive battle during the Peruvian War of Independence. The anniversary celebrations include sporting events, art and craft exhibitions and plenty of regional cuisine.
April 25, Ferreñafe
The festival of El Señor de la Justicia mixes the full spectrum of Ferreñafe’s religious, cultural and commercial heritage. The image of El Señor de la Justicia is honored twice a year, with a yearly festival on April 25 and a half-year festival on October 25. The festivities take place to the north of the city, in a location known as “La Alameda.” Here, locals and visitors gather to enjoy fairground attractions, bands, fireworks and the best of the region’s food and drink. Processions also snake through the streets of Ferreñafe (located 11 miles to the northeast of Chiclayo), accompanied by musicians and dancers.
April 25, Jauja
In April 1534, a year after the execution of the Inca ruler Atahualpa and one year before the foundation of Lima, Francisco Pizarro established Jauja as the provisional capital of Peru. Located in the Mantaro Valley about 25 miles northwest of Huancayo, the former native settlement became Peru’s first capital and the site of Peru’s first cathedral. Juaja’s anniversary celebrations often last for more than 10 days, with plenty of parades, sporting contests, craft shows and gastronomic fairs.
April isn’t only about anniversaries. There’s also the El Señor de la Justicia festival, a major Peruvian Paso horse contest and, potentially, Easter celebrations.
•Semana Santa (Holy Week)
March and/or April, Nationwide
Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Easter Day occur in March or April depending on the year. This also affects the dates of associated events such as the Cruces de Porcón procession (held on Palm Sunday) in the Porcón Valley, Cajamarca, and the Señor de los Temblores procession in Cusco (held on East Monday). For more about Holy Week, Easter and related events, see Peru in March.
Note: In 2015, Easter Sunday is on April 5. Check future dates here: When Is Easter?
•National Peruvian Paso Horse Contest
April 15 to 22 (exact dates may vary each year), Mamacona, Lima
The annual Official National Peruvian Paso Horse Contest is a big event on Peru’s equestrian calendar. The multiday event features the best Peruvian Paso horses in the country -- horses considered to be among the most elegant in the world. The contest takes place in Mamacona, located in the Pachacámac district of Lima.
•Anniversary of the District of Amantani
April 9, Amantani District, Puno
The district of Amantani in Puno includes the islands of Amantani and Taquile on Lake Titicaca. Since its creation in 1965, the islanders have established an increasingly popular anniversary festival. The anniversary celebrations typically last for at least three days, with both national and international visitors enjoying numerous cultural and sporting events, regional food and drink and, of course, the crowning of the Señorita Amantani beauty queen.
•Anniversary of Chiclayo
April 18, Chiclayo
Chiclayo, located on the north coast of Peru, was officially declared a city on April 18, 1835. Despite having been occupied in pre-Columbian times, April 18 remains the city’s official anniversary. The festivities often last for more than a week, with a full schedule of events including gastronomic fairs, musical performances, traditional dances, beauty pageants and fireworks. Overall, it’s a good time to be in Chiclayo.
•Anniversary of the Constitutional Province of Callao
April 22, Callao, Lima Metropolitan Area
On April 22, 1857, the city of Callao was declared a Constitutional Province. Despite being part of the larger Lima Metropolitan Area, the port city proudly retains its own identity. The anniversary celebrations include numerous public events, including history and art exhibitions, civic and military parades and a Te Deum mass.
•Anniversary of Huamanga (Ayacucho)
April 25, Ayacucho
Francisco Pizarro founded the Spanish colonial settlement of San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga on April 25, 1540. In 1825, Simón Bolívar renamed the city Ayacucho in honor of the Battle of Ayacucho, a decisive battle during the Peruvian War of Independence. The anniversary celebrations include sporting events, art and craft exhibitions and plenty of regional cuisine.
•Señor de la Justicia
April 25, Ferreñafe
The festival of El Señor de la Justicia mixes the full spectrum of Ferreñafe’s religious, cultural and commercial heritage. The image of El Señor de la Justicia is honored twice a year, with a yearly festival on April 25 and a half-year festival on October 25. The festivities take place to the north of the city, in a location known as “La Alameda.” Here, locals and visitors gather to enjoy fairground attractions, bands, fireworks and the best of the region’s food and drink. Processions also snake through the streets of Ferreñafe (located 11 miles to the northeast of Chiclayo), accompanied by musicians and dancers.
•Anniversary of the Spanish Foundation of Jauja
April 25, Jauja
In April 1534, a year after the execution of the Inca ruler Atahualpa and one year before the foundation of Lima, Francisco Pizarro established Jauja as the provisional capital of Peru. Located in the Mantaro Valley about 25 miles northwest of Huancayo, the former native settlement became Peru’s first capital and the site of Peru’s first cathedral. Juaja’s anniversary celebrations often last for more than 10 days, with plenty of parades, sporting contests, craft shows and gastronomic fairs.