San Antero Donkey Festival

Festival Nacional del Burro

View on map
MusicSan Antero
DatesDates TBACheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsFew festivals anywhere trace a documented
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: COP
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

San Antero Donkey Festival in San Antero

San Antero's donkey festival began in 1925 as a Holy Saturday ritual burning a Judas effigy mounted on a donkey, before being restructured in 1987 into the Festival Nacional del Burro celebrating the animal's role in Caribbean coastal farm life. Costumed-donkey parades, decima recitals and cattle-herding songs now run over Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday in this beach town near the Sinu River mouth.

The Festival del Burro in San Antero began, according to local accounts, in 1925 when Remigido Omasa Saavedra proposed that a figure representing Judas Iscariote be paraded through town mounted on a donkey each Holy Saturday, ending at a bonfire where the effigy was burned for its betrayal of Jesus - a Holy Week tradition that long predates any formal donkey festival.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few festivals anywhere trace a documented origin to burning a Judas effigy mounted on a donkey, a Holy Saturday ritual dating to 1925 that still underlies this event even after its 1987 rebrand toward celebrating the donkey as farm labour

02

The mystery stays covered

The costumed-donkey parade, often satirical in its dressing of the animals, gives the festival a distinctive visual identity unlike conventional Holy Week religious processions on the same coast

03

The city starts moving

Its location at the mouth of the Sinu River, next to Playa Blanca beach, adds a beach-tourism layer uncommon among Colombia's rural Holy Week festivals

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's core ritual traces to a Holy Saturday procession burning a Judas Iscariote effigy mounted on a donkey

Water and renewal

Living ritual

later expanded into costumed-donkey parades

The sacred route

Living ritual

decima verse recitals and cattle-herding work songs

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA

Getting around

For San Antero Donkey Festival, plan transport around the exact San Antero venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing suits San Antero's hot Caribbean coastal climate; sun protection matters more than any formal consideration, since the parade and plaza events run largely outdoors...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For San Antero Donkey Festival, stay near the part of San Antero you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

COP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map9.37 N, 75.76 WOpen in Google Maps

San Antero, Cordoba, Colombia

Nearest airportCTG — Rafael Nuñez
TransportFor San Antero Donkey Festival, plan transport around the exact San Antero venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor San Antero Donkey Festival, stay near the part of San Antero you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to San Antero via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near San Antero, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing suits San Antero's hot Caribbean coastal climate; sun protection matters more than any formal consideration, since the parade and plaza events run largely outdoors in direct sun. Swimwear is worth packing separately if combining the festival with nearby Playa Blanca.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Colombia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is San Antero Donkey Festival?

San Antero Donkey Festival is listed for Multiple months. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does San Antero Donkey Festival take place?

The festival is listed in San Antero, Colombia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

San Antero, Cordoba, Colombia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLsanantero-cordoba.gov.co
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Rock in Rio

4–13 September 2026

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photo pending

Montreal International Jazz Festival

Past edition: 25 June–4 July 2026

Montreal, Canada
Photo pending

Tomorrowland Brasil

Past edition: 10–12 October 2025

Itu, Brazil
Photo pending

Glastonbury Festival

23–27 June 2027

Pilton, United Kingdom

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →