Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.
New here? This is the 2014 recap. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián.
SanSe 2014 ran Thursday, January 16 through Sunday, January 19, 2014, in Old San Juan, under the banner “Cultura para todos.” It was the festival’s 44th anniversary, counting from Ricardo Alegría’s 1970 revival, and it was dedicated to the comedian and television host Raymond Arrieta. 506 artisans took part.
This was my first SanSe, and the video further down is what I shot in those streets.
The 2014 festival at a glance
- What: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián 2014, 44th anniversary
- When: January 16 to 19, 2014
- Theme: “Cultura para todos”
- Dedicated to: Raymond Arrieta
- Where: Old San Juan, across four main stages
- Artisans: 506 participating
- Admission: Free
The four stages of 2014
SanSe has never been one stage, and the 2014 program is the clearest illustration of that. Four plazas ran full independent schedules across four days. Here is the whole thing.
Plaza Colón
Thursday, January 16
- 4:00 PM · Julio
- 6:00 PM · DJ Kareoke
- 7:00 PM · Adoquín Jamming Nights Band
- 9:00 PM · DJ Salsa
Friday, January 17
- 3:00 PM · Julio
- 6:00 PM · Pirulo y la Tribu
- 8:00 PM · Adoquín Jamming Nights Band
- 10:00 PM · Plena Libre
Saturday, January 18
- 10:00 AM · Festival Arroces
- 12:00 PM · Espectáculo Infantil
- 1:00 PM · La Jungla
- 3:00 PM · Ricky Villanueva
- 5:00 PM · Y no había luz (Teatro de Máscaras)
- 7:00 PM · Grupomanía
- 9:00 PM · Millie Quezada
- 10:00 PM · DJ Salsa
- 11:00 PM · Asopao Rico
Sunday, January 19
- 10:00 AM · Krazy Kids
- 12:00 PM · Circo Nacional
- 1:00 PM · Kareoke Niños
- 3:00 PM · Super K
- 5:00 PM · Pleneros de las 23 Abajo
- 7:00 PM · Rumba Caliente
Plaza de la Barandilla
Thursday, January 16
- 5:00 PM · DJ
- 8:00 PM · La Máquina Insular
- 9:00 PM · DJ Aries Cofresí
- 10:00 PM · Julito Alvarado
Friday, January 17
- 5:00 PM · DJ
- 7:00 PM · Polem
- 8:00 PM · DJ
- 8:30 PM · Fernandito Ferrer
- 9:30 PM · DJ
- 10:00 PM · Pirulo y la Tribu
Saturday, January 18
- 11:00 AM · Talleres creativos para niños
- 1:00 PM · Agua, Sol y Sereno
- 4:00 PM · Concierto Desequilibrio
- 6:00 PM · Nudo
- 8:00 PM · Viento de Agua
- 10:00 PM · Andrés Jiménez
Sunday, January 19
- 11:00 AM · Talleres creativos para niños
- 1:00 PM · Agua, Sol y Sereno
- 2:00 PM · Concierto Desequilibrio
- 4:00 PM · Ella
- 5:30 PM · Adoquín Jamming Nights Band
- 7:00 PM · Boricubasón
- 8:30 PM · Juan Pablo Díaz y su Orquesta
Plaza de Armas
Thursday, January 16
- 5:00 PM · Flashmob
- 5:15 PM · DJ Residente Tony G
- 6:15 PM · DJ’s de Hot 102
- 6:30 PM · Rock
- 8:00 PM · Banda La Pepa
- 9:00 PM · Pleneros
- 9:30 PM · DJ King Arthur
Friday, January 17
- 5:00 PM · DJ Residente Tony G
- 6:00 PM · Banda Mantaraya
- 7:15 PM · DJ Residente y DJs de Hot 102
- 8:00 PM · Rock
- 9:30 PM · DJ Gulembo
Saturday, January 18
- 11:00 AM · Circo Nacional
- 12:15 PM · Taino Bomba
- 1:30 PM · Adoquín Jamming Nights
- 2:45 PM · Circo Nacional
- 5:00 PM · Custom Soldiers DJ
- 6:30 PM · Propane DJ
- 8:00 PM · DJ Vic House
- 9:30 PM · DJ Audrey Napoleón
Sunday, January 19
- 12:00 PM · Salsa Combo
- 1:15 PM · Salsa Combo Batalla de timbales
- 2:30 PM · Decimanía
- 3:30 PM · Intervención DJ Hot 102
- 4:00 PM · DJ Chilling Killing
- 5:30 PM · C C’s Dj D&B
- 7:00 PM · Cab Calloway
- 8:30 PM · DJ Laurent Sineca
Plaza del Quinto Centenario
Thursday, January 16
- 5:00 PM · Desfile y corte de cinta, from Escuela Abraham Lincoln to Plaza del Quinto Centenario via Calle San Sebastián
- 5:30 PM · Entrega Premios San Sebastián 2014
- 6:00 PM · Entrega de reconocimiento y dedicatoria de las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián en su 44 Aniversario a Raymond Arrieta
- 8:00 PM · Así Canta Puerto Rico, con Luisito Vigoreaux
- 10:00 PM · Orquesta Homenaje a Tommy Olivencia
Friday, January 17
- 4:00 PM · Comparsa de la Alcaldesa, from Plaza de Armas
- 5:00 PM · Desfile Escuela Abraham Lincoln to Plaza del Quinto Centenario via Calle San Sebastián
- 6:00 PM · Mensaje Alcaldesa, with Fernandito Ferrer
- 7:00 PM · Christian Pagán
- 8:00 PM · Plenéalo
- 9:00 PM · Kanny García
- 10:00 PM · Tito Nieves
Saturday, January 18
- 1:00 PM · Taller Musical Retablo
- 3:00 PM · Taller Palenque
- 5:00 PM · Los Majaderos de Cachete Maldonado
- 5:30 PM · Orquesta la Exclusiva
- 7:30 PM · Baile de Época
- 9:30 PM · Juan José, San Juan Habana
Sunday, January 19
- 11:00 AM · Misa al Santo Patrón, San Sebastián, Catedral de San Juan
- 12:00 PM · Rondalla de Humacao
- 1:00 PM · Orquesta de Güiros
- 2:00 PM · Grupo Musical Eco Raíces
- 3:00 PM · Grupo Atabal
- 5:00 PM · Tributo a Eddie Pérez “La Bala,” por la Orquesta El Gran Combo de Hoy
- 6:30 PM · Plena Libre
- 8:00 PM · Costa Brava
- 10:00 PM · Mickey Cora y su grupo
Teatro Tapia
Free musical: “Aguinaldo Gíbaro, Espíritu Navideño,” Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 at 3:00 PM. Presented by Gíbaro de Puerto Rico and the Municipio de San Juan.
Our video from SanSe 2014
Familiar scenes from the annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, shot in Old San Juan.
What the 2014 program tells you about SanSe
A few things stand out, and they still hold if you are planning a visit.
Four stages, four personalities. Plaza Colón ran the big commercial acts and the kids’ programming. Plaza de Armas was the DJ and rock plaza, deep into electronic sets by Saturday night. La Barandilla went alternative and folkloric, with Andrés Jiménez and Viento de Agua. Quinto Centenario carried the ceremony, the parades, the mayor’s message, and the Sunday salsa closers. Pick your plaza and you pick your festival.
The day belongs to kids and craft. Saturday and Sunday mornings on the flyer are Krazy Kids, Circo Nacional, talleres creativos para niños, kareoke niños, and a rice festival. The anchor guide says SanSe is two festivals depending on the hour, and the 2014 program proves it in print.
It opens and closes with the church. Thursday’s parade set off from the Escuela Abraham Lincoln down Calle San Sebastián, and Sunday opened with the Misa al Santo Patrón at the Catedral de San Juan. Even in a four-day street party with an Audrey Napoleón DJ set, the saint’s mass is still on the program.
506 artisans. That number is on the flyer, and it is the scale of the daytime craft market in one figure.
“Itinerario sujeto a cambios.” The flyer says so itself. Then as now, treat any published SanSe schedule as a strong suggestion.
Where it all happens
Old San Juan, where all four SanSe stages sit within walking distance of each other.
Planning a visit
SanSe returns every January on the third weekend. For the full history, traditions, the stage-by-stage breakdown, and current transit details, see our complete guide to SanSe.
Coming to San Juan? Pair it with our Puerto Rico travel guide and our guide to Puerto Rican street food for what to eat along the way. SanSe was one of the first major events I experienced after moving to Puerto Rico.
Follow along
- Facebook: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián
Were you at SanSe 2014? Tell us in the comments which plaza you spent your night in. We read every one.
This post covers the 2014 edition, which has concluded. Details reflect the program as published by the organizers at the time, which itself carried the note “itinerario sujeto a cambios.” For the full story of the festival, see our complete guide to SanSe.
