Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.
New here? This is the 2015 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 2015 ran Thursday, January 15 through Sunday, January 18, 2015, across four plazas of Old San Juan. The program came from the community of Old San Juan and the Municipio de San Juan, with an invitation printed right on the flyer: trae tu instrumento y monta tu comparsa ciudadana, bring your instrument and start your own parade. That line is SanSe in seven words. This was the 45th edition, counting from the 1970 revival.
The 2015 festival at a glance
- What: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián 2015, the 45th edition
- When: January 15 to 18, 2015
- Where: Old San Juan, across four plazas
- Stages: Plaza V Centenario, Plaza Colón, La Barandilla, Plaza de Armas
- Admission: Free
- Organized by: Comité Organizador de las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián Inc. and the Municipio de San Juan
The four stages of 2015
Plaza V Centenario
Thursday, January 15
- 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM · Programación a cargo del Comité Organizador de las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián Inc.
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Pirulo y la Tribu
Friday, January 16
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Conjunto Chaney
- 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM · Grupomanía
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Sonora Ponceña
Saturday, January 17
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM · Roberto Ortiz
- 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM · Comparsa (4) + Plenativa
- 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM · Rumba Plena
- 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM · Barreto y su Plena
- 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM · Etna Irizarry
- 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM · Juan Manuel Lebrón
- 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM · Limi-T21
- 11:00 PM to 12:00 AM · Ismael Miranda
Sunday, January 18
- 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM · Encuentro de Trovadores
- 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM · Tributo a Tony Croatto
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Willie Rosario
- 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM · Johnny Ventura
Plaza Colón
Thursday, January 15
- 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM · José Nogueras
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM · Guarásion
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · NG2
Friday, January 16
- 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM · La Quilombera
- 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM · Karis
- 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM · La Secta
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Kanny García
Saturday, January 17
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM · Colectivo 787
- 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM · Diana Fuentes
- 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM · Danny Formaris
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Milly Torres y su PVC
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Sie7e
Sunday, January 18
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM · Fernandito Ferrer
- 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM · Susa y Epifanio
- 4:45 PM to 6:00 PM · Viento de Agua
- 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM · Ora, La PVC
- 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM · Joseph Fonseca
La Barandilla
Thursday, January 15
- 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM · Yubá Iré
- 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM · Tribu de Alberto
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM · Plenéros del 5to Olivo
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Juan Pablo Díaz
Friday, January 16
- 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM · Tuna Los Segreles
- 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM · Sully Díaz, La Lupe
- 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM · La Criolla
- 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM · El Topo
Saturday, January 17
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM · Los Pioneros de la 23 Abajo
- 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM · Almas Band, María
- 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM · Choco Orta
- 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM · Boricubasón
- 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM · Macabeo
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Pedro Capó
Sunday, January 18
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM · Trío Los Andinos
- 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM · Los Hispanos
- 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM · Roy Brown
- 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM · Andrés Jiménez
Plaza de Armas
Thursday, January 15
- 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM · DJ Scarface
- 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM · DJ James
- 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM · DJ Xtasy
Friday, January 16
- 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM · DJ Porrata
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM · King Arthur
- 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM · Algarete
Saturday, January 17
- 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM · Ivan Robles, DJ
- 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM · Nicky Boom Box
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM · DJ Metro
- 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM · Black Guayaba
Sunday, January 18
- 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM · Carlos Fernández
- 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM · Emil Cedeño
- 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM · DJ Gulembo
- 9:00 PM to 10:30 PM · Sí Señor
What the 2015 program tells you about SanSe
The plaza personalities were already locked in. Compare this to 2014 and the pattern holds exactly: V Centenario for the big salsa and closing acts (Johnny Ventura, Willie Rosario, Ismael Miranda), Plaza de Armas for DJs and rock, La Barandilla for the alternative and folkloric end (Roy Brown, Andrés Jiménez, El Topo), Plaza Colón for the crowd-pleasers. Pick your plaza and you pick your night.
Sunday is the traditional day. The Encuentro de Trovadores, the Tony Croatto tribute, Los Hispanos, Andrés Jiménez, and Johnny Ventura closing. If you want the folkloric heart of SanSe rather than the party, Sunday has always been the day.
“Trae tu instrumento.” The flyer’s own invitation to bring an instrument and start a comparsa is the rumbón de plena in official form. The scheduled acts are only half the festival.
Our video from SanSe
Familiar scenes from the annual Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, shot in Old San Juan.
Where it all happens
Old San Juan, where all four SanSe plazas 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. See also our recaps of 2014, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Coming to San Juan? Pair it with our Puerto Rico travel guide and our guide to Puerto Rican street food.
Follow along
- Facebook: Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián
Were you at SanSe 2015? Tell us in the comments which plaza you spent your night in. We read every one.
This post covers the 2015 edition, which has concluded. Details reflect the program as published by the organizers at the time. For the full story of the festival, see our complete guide to SanSe.
