2024 Dia De San Pedro is Coming Up: Tradition, Fishing, A Pagaent and a Big Party

Every year, Ambergris Caye looks forward to Dia De San Pedro. These festivities combine religion and culture, as well as a carnival and music, to celebrate the island’s patron saint, San Pedro or St. Peter.

You can read a brief modern history of the island – one that goes from the Caste Wars of the Yucatan and many fleeing to northern Belize to coconut plantations and copra production to a fishing industry to tourism – here, in Part One and Part Two.

The beautiful painting that was on display at the now-closed San Pedro House of Culture above represents some of this history.

For over 100 years, the village (and then town in 1981) of San Pedro has celebrated St. Peter, the patron saint of net makers, shipbuilders, and fishermen.

Nine days of piety and a nine-step altar. The statue of St Peter would move up a step each night at one of the novenas…or services held at a local family’s house.

The novenas, or nine days devoted to the saint, would end with the bishop coming from Belize City to be met by decorated local boats and docks. He would confirm local children readied for their confirmation, perform a blessing of a parade of the fishing boats (sometimes with holy water in a water pistol!), and then a feast and festival.

This sort of party was hugely anticipated in the days before restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. It included dance contests, a huge band, food, and a giant party.

For more events that happen throughout the year on Ambergris Caye and Belize, check out my Belize Events—Holidays and Festivals page.

In the last 100+ years, San Pedro has grown by leaps and bounds, and then some, but the basic idea remains the same. And this year, 2024, the Roman Catholic church has a great schedule of events to celebrate St. Peter and fishing in general. Which has shifted from a solely commercial industry to include sport fishing and fly-fishing- both very important economic centers on the island.

See the Church’s very thorough website for more information.

The events above take place on June 29th, a Saturday. Also, Don Severo’s Dock is on Back A Back Street – if you want to see the boats.

I LOVE that there is a FUN RUN this year.

And an artistic competition.

At night, there is the hugely popular Miss San Pedro pageant. This year is the 65th annual presentation!

It all kicked off on June 6th with the announcement of the delegates – and continues until the pageant on Saturday, June 29th. The young women will be appearing at events all over town…and…even if you think that you are not “the pageant-loving type”…it’s so cute to see young kids look at the contestants in awe and adoration…

It’s a beloved institution in San Pedro. Costumes, dancing, gowns…it’s a bit deal. You can follow all the updates (there are lots!) on the pageant’s facebook page. Beautiful photo from their page.

(And I need to figure out how to remember the spelling of pageant – I type it wrong (pagaent) each and every time. Thank you spell check!)

And lastly, there will be Live Music and DJs and dancing – LATE NIGHT – happening at Saca Chispas (the football field on Back Street, San Pedro)

How did Saca Chipas get that name?

Here are the announced events.

Keep an eye on the San Pedro Town Council’s social media sites – especially the Facebook page – for more. (There is SO much information put out on this page – it’s a must-follow)