Festival de Merengue

Merengue is both music and dance style distinctive to Dominican culture. The three-person bands usually consist of accordion, saxophone, and drum. They accompany couples dancing in pairs wearing traditional costumes. The dance looks so lively that it can make anyone want to dance.

The festival is usually started on the last week of July and lasts for two weeks. During that time, El Malecón, Santo Domingo’s seaside promenade, becomes a playground for fun. The agenda includes a few stages at a time, musical bands, dancers in colorful costumes, which creates an atmosphere of a non-stop celebration. Vendors usually cook pork sandwiches called chimichurris, perfectly paired with local beer and traditional rum.

Where: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

When: July and August