The grandest Caribbean fiesta is upon us, and nobody throws a better party than Puerto Rico! But to families with little kids, the primary question is — how do we survive the fiesta of fiestas with the kiddos? Below are some quick tips to follow before heading out to Las Fiestas de la Sanse (San Sebastian Street Festival) in Viejo San Juan:
1. Get there early
Try arriving earlier in the day, when the party is just warming up. There are artisan stands, food stalls and fun activities beginning at 10am onwards, so there’s enough to see before the crowd starts to roll in. The party heats up after 7pm, so start heading out by then if you don’t want your kids squished between revelers and their Medallas.
2. Skip driving and take alternative transportation
Don’t get stuck in traffic or spend hours looking for parking. Most of Viejo San Juan will be closed to vehicular traffic, so you’re better off taking alternative transportation. We took the ferry from Catano, where you not only get an awesome view of Viejo San Juan, you also start the fun before you board with all the entertainment at the port.
3. Wear something comfortable
Expect a crowd, and expect a ton of walking. So leave the fancy shoes behind and have the entire family wear something they’ll be comfortable in all day long.
4. Bring cash
Not all stalls take other payment methods, so good ‘ol cash is the quickest way to get to your alcapurrias.
5. Attach your contact info to your kids’ clothing
Or write down your phone # on your kids’ wrists. I’m sure you’ll have your eyes and hands on your little ones, but just in case one of them gets swept away in the sea of people, make sure that they know how to find one of the volunteers or police officers and show your contact information.
6. Stay hydrated
Prepare for walking under the sun and make sure your family stays hydrated throughout the day. Bring water or a treat, or grab a “limber” (tropical ice cone) from one of the food stands.
7. Bring something that lights up
Not only is it fun for kids to have something to wave around while listening to the marching bands, it’s a great way to spot them in the crowd.
8. Keep it lightweight
There’s going to be a lot of shoulder-bumping and tight areas in the mercados, so keep your bags small to avoid accidentally bumping into delicate items for sale. Take it from me– that was one expensive cup that I never got to drink from!
9. Have a plan
There’s a lot of activity going on, so have an idea where to start and what fun things you can’t miss. Here’s a link to the schedule for this year’s events:
We spent our time watching entertainment at Plaza del Totem and perusing food and artist stalls at the Museo de las Americas plaza. Here’s a guide to shopping at SanSe (in Spanish):
10. Have fun!
The Borinquens know how to throw a party, so join in on the fun and enjoy the fiesta of fiestas!
We're Ron, Dawne, Dylan and Reese -- a family of four Puerto Rico transplants from California. Every day and every journey is a learning opportunity for us, whether it's on an exotic trip to the Galapagos or a regular trip to the grocery store. We believe in collecting memories, not things and constantly feed our insatiable wanderlust. Join us in our world-schooling adventures here, on
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