Fiesta de San Baltasar

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Religious & SpiritualMontevideo
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe 6 January date ties the parade to the
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: UYU
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Fiesta de San Baltasar in Montevideo

Known locally as Las Llamadas de San Baltasar, a candombe drum parade held every 6 January on Montevideo's Isla de Flores street in Barrio Sur and Palermo, honoring San Baltasar, one of the Three Kings, with deep roots in Afro-Uruguayan history, identity, community and resistance.

Every 6 January, Montevideo's Isla de Flores street, running through the historically Afro-descendant neighborhoods of Barrio Sur and Palermo, fills with the sound of candombe drums for Las Llamadas de San Baltasar, a parade of comparsas honoring San Baltasar, one of the Three Kings of the Epiphany, whose traditional depiction as a Black king made him a particular focus of devotion within Montevideo's Afro-Uruguayan community.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The 6 January date ties the parade to the Catholic feast of the Epiphany, Dia de Reyes, but its cultural center of gravity is unmistakably Afro-Uruguayan: San Baltasar, traditionally depicted as Black among the Three Kings, became a particular focus of devotion within Montevideo's historically Afro-descendant Barrio Sur and Palermo neighborhoods, and the event has been described by regional media as a legado de libertad, identidad y resistencia, a legacy of freedom, identity and resistance, linking the candombe parade directly to the community's history under slavery and its aftermath

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Directly continues Afro-Uruguayan candombe tradition centered in the historic Barrio Sur and Palermo neighborhoods

Water and renewal

Living ritual

honoring San Baltasar as a figure of particular devotion within that community

The sacred route

Living ritual

and functioning as both a religious observance tied to the Epiphany and a powerful assertion of Afro-Uruguayan cultural identity and historical memory

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

For Fiesta de San Baltasar, plan transport around the exact Montevideo venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual summer evening wear, since 6 January falls in the height of Uruguayan summer; comfortable shoes for standing along the parade route.

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

For Fiesta de San Baltasar, stay near the part of Montevideo you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

UYU

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.90 S, 56.19 WOpen in Google Maps

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

Nearest airportMVD — Carrasco General Cesáreo L. Berisso
TransportFor Fiesta de San Baltasar, plan transport around the exact Montevideo venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Fiesta de San Baltasar, stay near the part of Montevideo 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 Montevideo via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Montevideo, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearCasual summer evening wear, since 6 January falls in the height of Uruguayan summer; comfortable shoes for standing along the parade route.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Uruguay and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Fiesta de San Baltasar?

Fiesta de San Baltasar is listed for January · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Fiesta de San Baltasar take place?

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

How long should I plan for?

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

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay

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 URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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