Quito Foundation – Celebrating Fiestas de Quito
Quito’s festivities are much more than a simple celebration. These represent a tribute to the Ecuadorian capital’s rich history, culture, and traditions. These develop between religious traditions and popular festivals. During this time, the city is transformed into a space of collective joy, where the past is honored, the present is lived with enthusiasm, and we look toward the future with hope. For these reasons, we recommend that you participate in these festivities in December of each year, a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and history of this city, which has been declared a World Cultural Heritage Site.
We have created this note to tell you a little about the Quito festivals and answer some frequently asked related questions. Therefore, we invite you to read about how it is celebrated in this jewel of South America.
When are the Quito festivals celebrated?#
Quito’s festivities are celebrated annually on December 6, a symbolic date in the hearts of all Quito residents. The celebrations usually extend for several days before and after this date (more than a week), and the town is decorated every year to celebrate its founding festivities.
What is celebrated in the Quito festivals?#
These holidays celebrate the Spanish founding of Quito, a historical event that marked the beginning of the colonial city as it is known today. Although Quito already existed as an indigenous city before the arrival of the Spanish, it commemorates the official establishment of the city under Spanish rule.
What do Quito’s festivals mean?#
Quito’s festivities are much more than a simple anniversary celebration. They represent a moment of civic and cultural pride for Quiteños, an opportunity to honor their history and reaffirm their identity. It is a time when the city renews its spirit, celebrating its past while looking to the future.
Why are Quito’s festivities celebrated on December 6?#
The date of December 6 was chosen to commemorate the day that Sebastián de Benalcázar, a Spanish conquistador, officially founded the city of San Francisco de Quito in 1534. Although the city already existed as an urban and ceremonial center for the area’s indigenous peoples, this date marks the beginning of Quito as a Spanish colonial city.
Who founded Quito?#
“On August 28, 1534, Diego de Almagro established the foundation of San Francisco de Quito, carried out by Sebastián de Benalcázar on December 6, 1534, of that same year” Centro Virtual Cervantes (1997-2021). Diego de Almagro.
As we have said, Sebastián de Benalcázar is credited with founding Quito. However, the city has roots in civilizations such as the Quitus and the Incas, and long before the arrival of the Spanish, it was already an important urban and ceremonial center.
What traditions are there during the Quito festivals?#
Quito’s festivals are full of traditions that reflect the city’s cultural diversity. Some of the most notable traditions during the Quito festivities are:
Proclamation Parade
The proclamation parade is colorful and marks the official start of the festivities. It features floats, music, and dancing.
Gastronomic festivals
During Quito’s festivities, people enjoy local cuisine, reflecting the city’s culinary identity. The typical dishes characteristic of the festivities are empanadas de viento, fried cheese empanadas, and the emblematic “canelazo”, a hot drink based on naranjilla juice, cinnamon, and sugar, which may or may not be accompanied by liquor composed of brandy. In Quito, the latter is known as picket.
During the Quito festivities, you can taste the delicious Quito gastronomy and Ecuadorian cuisine.
Confraternity Parade
In the Confraternity Parades, members of educational institutions, majorettes, floats, dance groups, town bands, organized neighborhood groups, and many other delegations usually participate. These parades are typically held in different parts of Quito (north and south of the city), where color, joy, and tradition prevail.”
Chivas Quito
Chivas are open trucks conditioned to transport people standing and are festively decorated. People celebrate with music, dance, and traditional drinks in these places. There are Chivas for public use, which you can ride if you pay a modest fee, and others that are rented for the exclusive use of groups of friends or different companies.
Ride the Quito Tour Bus
It is very traditional to travel, either during the day or at night, on the Quito Tour Bus, the only double-decker bus in the city, and enjoy the best view of Quito to the rhythm of Chullita Quiteño. Since 2013, the official bus has amazed locals and foreigners, and during the Quito festivities, the bus dresses up to celebrate the founding of the Ecuadorian capital.
Every year during the Quito festivities, members of many institutions, especially educational ones, use our services and tour the city on the Quito Tour Bus, surrounded by an atmosphere of joy and celebration. Remember that you can celebrate the upcoming Quito holidays on our shared tours or our private buses. To make reservations, contact us by WhatsApp.
Wooden car racing
It is a traditional Quito game whose origins date back to the 1940s in Quito. In this race, cars must be built of wood, nails, and tires coated with rubber from used tires. This tradition is treasured by children and young people who participate with their handcrafted cars.
The Quito Serenade
Musical groups walk the streets singing traditional songs. The Quito Serenade is a popular demonstration characterized by guitars, drums, flutes, and other instruments, an experience enjoyed in the company of a good “canelazo”.
The “40” game
The “40” is a traditional card game in the country, highly popular during the Quito Festival. The objective of forty, a game recommended to be played in pairs, is to accumulate the most significant number of cards until reaching 40 points. Forty is played among friends, neighbors, family, and colleagues without distinction of age or gender, and during the city festivals, different championships are organized throughout the city.
Learning the game’s logic and knowing the rules in detail are basic prerequisites for winning. If you want to know everything about this popular Ecuadorian game, we invite you to read our blog, Become a Professional 40 PLayer.
Quito’s Queen Election
The election and award gala of the Queen of San Francisco de Quito, held for the founding of the capital, is a beauty and talent contest in which an ambassador of the city is chosen.
The person who obtains the reign must focus on “promoting, promoting and participating in social assistance programs and help for people with disabilities, children, young people, women, and older adults; increase the spirit of civility and fraternity of the inhabitants of the Metropolitan District of Quito; and, collaborate in the preservation of the environment, through campaigns and programs for recycling, cleaning and preserving the ornament of Quito.” Fundación Reina de Quito (2021). Objetivos Fundación Reina de Quito.
What type of activities are carried out at Quito parties?#
Quito’s festivals are an explosion of culture and joy, and the activities during this time are diverse and for all tastes. Some of the most notable are:
Free concerts in squares and parks
These events usually feature the participation of national and international artists.
Cultural events
Concerts, art exhibitions, craft fairs, and theatrical presentations occur during the Quito festivals. To learn about all the events throughout the city, we recommend that you keep an eye on the Municipality of Quito festival agenda, which is available on our page every December.
Gastronomic festivals
In these festivals, the typical food of Quito and its culinary identity are promoted. Some of the most consumed typical dishes are empanadas, hornado, and buñuelos.
Neighborhood festivals
Each Quito neighborhood organizes its festivals, which include traditional activities and competitions.
Cultural and craft fairs
Spaces in which traditional products, art, and local crafts are exhibited.
Popular dances
Music and dance are essential during these festivities, with rhythms like the parade and the Bomba del Chota playing on every corner.
Sports competitions
Athletic races, cycling, and other sporting events occur during these festivities.
Photo by Quito Tour Bus.
Experiencing the city during its festivities offers a unique opportunity to understand its history, appreciate its traditions, and participate in the community that defines Quito as a culturally vibrant destination.
Currently, Quito’s festivals are an opportunity to strengthen the sense of identity of Quito residents and promote tourism. Therefore, if you want to visit Quito during its festivities and are wondering what the best areas to stay in are, we recommend you read our note. Also, if you want to know everything about what to do in Quito, we invite you to read our article about the Top things to do in Quito.
What to do at the Quito festivals?#
We have prepared a series of activities for the Quito 2024 festival. We recommend you review each in our link: Quito Festival Tour . In addition, we suggest you check the Municipality of Quito’s festival agenda, which will be available on our page every December.
We have several tours, and one of the most significant is our Special Quito Festival Tour, in which you will take a tour of the north and center of the city on the Quito Tour Bus, the only double-decker bus in the town. In our Special Quito Festival Tour, we will tell you the legends and stories of Quito; you can tap your feet and dance with our town band, you will enjoy a delicious canelazo, and you will toast with the Devil Huma; and, finally,, you can marvel at the dazzling fireworks show that will light up the sky to celebrate the beautiful city of Quito.
Additionally, during the Quito festivities, we recommend you take our Night Tour; take the Quito City Tour, an unforgettable trip through the most significant historical center in South America in which you can marvel at its cultural and architectural wealth or perform the Middle of the World Tour, a unique adventure in this iconic destination in Ecuador.
Come and enjoy the Quito festivities on our safe and fun tours. We guarantee you will enjoy the explosion of light and joy in honor of Ecuador’s charming capital.
Photo by Quito Tour Bus.
The festivals celebrate the city’s founding and are a tribute to Quito’s pride and festive spirit. They are an explosion of culture, history, and joy that transforms the city every December. These festivals allow city residents and visitors to learn about local traditions, customs, and artistic expressions.
It is a time when the city shows its identity, traditions, and hospitality when Quito people open their arms to the world and invite everyone to be part of this beautiful celebration that honors the past and celebrates the present of one of the jewels of South America.
