Old San Juan - 4th of July

[Cookmb]

Does anyone know if they celebrate 4th of July in San Juan? Are there any festivals or fireworks? Are the shops and forts open?

 

Thank you in advance,

[estofon]

Does anyone know if they celebrate 4th of July in San Juan? Are there any festivals or fireworks? Are the shops and forts open?

 

Thank you in advance,

It is a Federal holiday, so state, local, and government offices are closed. Stores are open, as well as the forts. Per the National Park Service website:

"Castillo San Cristobal & Castillo San Felipe del Morro are open to the public everyday 9:00am to 6:00pm except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day."

 

I don't know if there are fireworks, though.

 

Luis

[BigGuy25]

We were in San Juan for 4th of July a few year's back. Some of the locals in Old San Juan told us that there were several fireworks displays held in the area ... including up at the old fort. Since we didn't sail until midnight, we made our way back to the ship at dusk and settled in to enjoy the display from one of the hight decks. And then, NOTHING!! I don't know if we were just "played with" or if, for some reason, they just didn't have any displays that year. We didn't even hear any firecrackers going off during the day and night. It seemed like us as just a typical day in San Juan. Stores bustling and lots of folks on the streets. But, NO FIREWORKS!!!

[Cookmb]

Thanks for the info. I was sort of doubtful that there would be any big celebration there.

[orquidia]

We were in San Juan for 4th of July a few year's back. Some of the locals in Old San Juan told us that there were several fireworks displays held in the area ... including up at the old fort. Since we didn't sail until midnight, we made our way back to the ship at dusk and settled in to enjoy the display from one of the hight decks. And then, NOTHING!! I don't know if we were just "played with" or if, for some reason, they just didn't have any displays that year. We didn't even hear any firecrackers going off during the day and night. It seemed like us as just a typical day in San Juan. Stores bustling and lots of folks on the streets. But, NO FIREWORKS!!!

 

this day is observed due to our association with the US but it is a politically charged day for Puerto Rico with political rallies or complete indifference: some agree (those who favor US statehood for PR like the mayor of San Juan), some do not feel they have to celebrate anything since Puerto Rico is not US and celebrate the 25th of July which is the PR Constitution Day (those who favor a sovereign commonwealth or greater autonomy for Puerto Rico) and some just simply oppose completly (those who favor complete independence 'why celebrate the independence of a country who took ours?).