Masquerade Day (La Mascarada) 2025 in Costa Rica

Masquerade Day, or La Mascarada, is a Costa Rican celebration of Halloween, which is celebrated on October 31st. The colorful parade, full of giant masks, is an authentic local tradition that has deep historical roots and was revived two decades ago. October 31st is officially known as the National Masquerade Day.

Traditional Masquerade Characters

Giant costumed puppets march the streets with music and dances. Small music bands, called cimarronas, accompany the processions. Large puppet heads are prepared by local artists with craft paper and various materials. Escazu artisans are especially renowned for creating unique masks. They are the masters behind traditional Costa Rican folk characters like El Diablo and la Muerte. There is also el Padre sin Cabeza la Segua, a legendary headless ghost, which appears in front of men and women who stay up late. Also meet la Llorona, a female ghost that wonders along river banks and scares kids. In recent years, you can also see masks of various popular culture characters at the parades, especially those that are loved by children.

Places to Celebrate La Mascarada

Besides downtown Cartago, where the first masquerade was held, you can watch large masquerade parades in the towns of Escazu at Escazu Central Park, Aserri at Aserri Park, and downtown Barva de Heredia. In Cartago, the masquerade is normally held on Plaza Mayor de Cartago.

Celebration in Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (October 27, 2024)

Situated in San José, Costa Rica, the museum aims to promote this vibrant tradition of masquerades and showcase the beauty of its origins. This year, from 11 am until 12 pm, opens with a mesmerizing concert of Costa Rican music featuring the San José Concert Band. Admission is completely free for residents and nationals.

History of the Celebration

This vibrant tradition dates back to pre-Colombian customs, carnivals, and the Giants and Big-heads parade held during the San Fermin festival. The first masquerade was held in Cartago in 1824. The event was abandoned for nearly a century and was at risk of disappearing. However, after more than 100 years, in 1996, it was decided to revive the tradition. October 31 was officially declared the Dia de la Mascarada Tradicional Costarricense.