Punta Cana events and happenings for 2011…

Many of the events are not confirmed until the last minute. We’ll try to keep you up to date as best as we can.

January 2011

Sat 1st: New Years Day (public holiday)

Mon 10th: Epiphany/3 Kings Day (public holiday)
Actual date is Wed 6th, changed to Mon 10th to allow workers a long weekend.

Fri 14th: start of Whale Watching season in Samana. Continues till March 15th.

Fri 21st: Día de la Altagracia (public holiday)
21, 22, 23, 24 taken as long weekend by many.

Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd: Cocoon Party II on the beach @ Jellyfish Restaurant.
Time: Saturday at 22:00 hrs – Sunday, 23 January 2011 at 10:00 hrs. DJs and beach fun. Entrance on the Door: 500 pesos General / 800 pesos VIP.
For tables Reservations Tel: 1 809-481-3611. See their facebook page under Events for info.

Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd: Winter Kitefest 2011 @ Playa Blanca in the grounds of Puntacana Resort & Club
Beach BBQ, DJs and Bob Marley tribute band, kids activities, kiteboarding exhibition.
Free entry for all spectators and riders. For more info visit www.kiteclub.com

Mon 24th: Día de Duarte (public holiday)
Actual date is Tues 26th, changed to Mon 24th to allow workers a long weekend.

February 2011

Wed 16th & Fri 18th: Pre-Desalia parties @ Mangu Disco www.mangudiscobar.com

Sat 19th: Barcelo Rum’s DESALIA 2011 – Annual mega beach party/rave
Venue to be confirmed. Held last year on the southern side of Cabeza de Toro beach (to the right of Animal Adventure Park – see Map 3)
Party to the tunz of International DJs till the sun comes up. A big hit with Spanish Spring Breakers. Dress in white.
Lineup: Hombres G, Roger Sanchez, Superlush DJs, Chris Willis, Robert Ramirez, Javi Reina…
www.ron-barcelo.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RonBarceloSpain
Click for 2010 Video link

Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th: 2nd Annual Cap Cana Beach Polo World Cup.
Venue: Juanillo Beach, Cap Cana.
See website for schedule and more info www.capcanapolo.com

Sun 27th: Día de la Independencia (public holiday)
Carnival grand parade on the Malecón in Santo Domingo. Carnival comes to Punta Cana on Sat 12th March 2011 .

March 2011

Tues 15th: End of Whale Watching season in Samana. Although can continue longer if whales decide to stay longer.

Sat 12th at 4pm onwards : 4th Annual Punta Cana Carnival - at Punta Cana Village opposite the airport.
At 9:30pm Los Hermanos Rosarios will perform their hot merengue hits until late. Call for more info 1 809 959 5006
previous dates – 2010 Sat 20th, 2009 Sat 7th, 2008 Mar 8th
Click to see our 2010 article

Sat 27th: Punta Cana 10K & Half Marathon. From 6am. Start from Puntacana Resort & Club
More info www.puntacanamarathon.com

April 2011

1st April to 31st July: it is prohibited to fish for lobster during this period (lobster mating season) in the Dominican Republic, according to “Decreto 159 24th March 2009 and Law 307-04″
Imported lobster is allowed by permission but obviously won’t be fresh.

Fri 8th: Jazz @ Il Cappuccino (Cap Cana Marina – close to Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana)
from 8:30pm to 11:30pm
Website: www.cappuccino-rd.com

Fri 15th: Gran Fiesta De La Orquestra De Los Hermanos Rosario @ Imagine Nightclub. From 8pm.
Tickets 1200rd per person. Open Bar. Organised by Club Rotario. Proceeds go to the firefighters of Bavaro-Punta Cana.
www.imaginepuntacana.com Imagine on Facebook

Fri 22nd: Good Friday (public holiday)

Thurs 21st to Sun 24th is taken as holiday by most Dominicans to celebrate “Semana Santa” with most of the island’s population migrating to the beaches.

Note: on Good Friday April 22nd 2011 all watersports and other excursions and prohibited. On the other Days from Holy Thursday til Easter Sunday (April 21st-24th 2011) motorized watersports such as parasailing, banana boats, scuba diving, glass bottom boats, snorkel cruises etc will be prohibited.
Snorkeling from the beach, kayaks, hobiecats, windsurfing etc will be available as usual, except on Good Friday.

Thurs 21st to Mon 24th: X-TREME Bavaro-Punta Cana. Venue: Palma Real Shopping Village car park.
Competition & Exhibition of stakeboarding, long boards, roller blades & BMX. Professional Stakepark, X-Treme photo exhibition, DJs & LIve music, Break Dancing display, Graffiti area.
The event is promoted by The Ministry of Tourism. Entry is free.
www.palmarealshoppingvillage.com

Thurs 21st, Fri 22nd, Sat 23rd: Space of Sounds @ Mangu Disco
www.mangudiscobar.com

Thurs 21st to Sun 24th: PHOTOPALOOZZA SEMANA SANTA @ El Photo Bar in Cortecito
4 days of music (live bands, DJs, beach party) For Photo Bar location See Map 4

Fri 22nd: COCOON @ JELLYFISH Restaurant
DJs and beach party
www.jellyfishrestaurant.com
www.cocoon.net/dominicanrepublic/en.php Cocoon on Facebook

Fri 22nd: Tribute to Bob Marley @ Hard Rock Cafe in Palma Real Shopping Village (see Map 5)
Entrance $US10 includes a welcome drink / starts midnight
Facebook: Hard Rock Cafe Punta Cana
See Palma Real Shopping Village website

Sat 23rd: @ Playa Blanca (see Map 7)
11am to 5pm Spring Break Extravaganza – BBQ Beach Party, Kids activities, DJs and more (free entrance)
9pm onwards Electro 80′s Dance Party on da beach
Playa Blanca on Facebook

Fri 22nd to Sun 24th: Bigbang Miami & European Planet Events presents for the first time in the Dominican Republic…
LOVELAND FESTIVAL 2011 Bavaro-Punta Cana
A dance music festival featuring an international superstar DJ lineup
Venue: The Club House at White Sands Golf Course (see Map 4)
starts on 22nd at 11:30pm ends 24th at 5pm
Superstar DJs: M.A.N.D.Y, Lee Burridge, Sultan, Ned Shepard, Haus Klaus (Germany), Ilgin (Turkey), Monica H, Hugo M (Miami), Diego Harispe (Miami), Hugo Bianco (Miami), Edwardo Louder (DR), Joseph Under (DR) + more!
www.lovelandfestival.com.do
Facebook: LOVELAND
Email: info@lovelandfestival.com  |  Tel: 1 809 723 1133
Ticket prices – Men: Regular: RD$1,500  VIP: RD$2,500 | Women: Regular: RD$750 VIP: RD$1,250
Tickets available from Hard Rock Cafe in Palma Real Shopping Village

Wed 27th: Survivor in concert @ Hard Rock Hotel
80′s rock band, biggest hit “Eye of the Tiger”…
www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com

Fri 29th – May 1st: Celebrities for Haiti – Legends Weekend @ Hard Rock Hotel
Celebrity studded fund raising event to benefit the rebuilding efforts in Haiti.
Celebs and sports figures include: Heather Graham, Yankee great Daryl Strawberry, World Series Poker winner Phil Hellmuth.
Festivities include celebrity chef prepared dinner, golf tournament, celebrity poker tournament, baseball games, after parties and more!
All proceeds go towards various charities.
www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com

May 2011

Mon 2nd: Labour Day (public holiday)
actual date is Sun 1st.

Fri 27th – Mon 30th: Fusion Music Festival @ Hard Rock Hotel
Memorial Day weekend sees 4 days of music, dancing and beach parties featuring world renowned DJs from the hottest clubs in Ibiza, Miami, New York and Las Vegas. Come join the fun in the sun!
Line up includes: Mr Mauricio, Vertigo, DJ Graham, Funke, Stonerokk, Ravi Drums, Rocktakon, Nikolas, Flynn Nolan + more.
www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com

Sun 29th: Mother’s Day

May 31st – June 5th: The International Cap Cana Billfish Shootout.
A 3 day catch & release event at Cap Cana Marina. For more info email: info@intlbillfishtourns.com
www.intlbillfishtourns.com

June 2011

Fri 17th to Mon 20th: La Feria de Mango en Bani (Bani Mango Festival).
Bani is a small town an hour west of Santo Domingo (4.5 hours drive west of Punta Cana), famous for its mangos, dulce leches and poets.
The festival will take place in La Plazoleta del Parque Central de Baní.
http://www.expomango.org

Mon 20th to Aug 19th: Puntacana Tennis Camp for kids 7 years to 14 years @ Puntacana Resort & Club.
More info here: www.puntacana.com/golf-spa/tennis

Tues 21st to Thurs 23rd: This should draw a crowd
The World’s First Latin American Transformer Maintenance Symposium to be held at the Grand Paradise Bavaro resort in Punta Cana.
For more info: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/The-Worlds-First-Latin-prnews-1818006437.html?x=0&.v=1

Thurs 23rd: Corpus Christi Day (public holiday)
23, 24, 25 taken as holiday by many Dominicans

July 2011

Fri 1st: Canada’s Independence Day – many of the hotels have festivities for Canadian visitors.

Mon 4th: America’s Independence Day – many of the hotels have festivities for American visitors.

Sat 23rd: Punta Cana Speed Fest
Venue: Punta Cana International Airport’s new runway
Time: 3:30pm
See 20 exotic cars breaking the 300 kph barrier (186 mph)

Sun 31st: Father’s Day

August 2011

Sat 13th to Mon 15th: Latin Music Tours 2011. Venue: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana.
A festival of salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton & urban vibes. 2011 artists include Frank Reyes, Toño Rosario, Secreto, Dj Plex, Alexa, Janio Lora, Truhanes, Johny Ventura, Lupe Valero, Héctor Acosta El Torito, Alexis y Fido.
Tickets should be available via your hotel tour rep.
Organised by Quepe Tours (Facebook page link)

Mon 15th: Día de la Restauración (public holiday)
Actually falls on 16th. Many people will take holiday 12, 13, 14, 15th.

September 2011

Sat 24th: Día de las Mercedes (public holiday)

October 2011

Thurs 6th: Moscow Classical Ballet on Ice presents Cinderella and Swan Lake
Venue: Gallerias Puntacana (See Map 7 opposite the airport) Time: 7pm
Tickets on the door: 1000 rd (VIP 2000 rd) per person
More info 809 959 7378

Thurs 6th to Mon 10th: The 5th Annual Punta Cana Salsa Congress. Venue: Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort.
For more details see:  http://puntacanasalsacongress.com
Last year 2010 event: Thurs 7th – Mon 11th NH Real Arena hotel
Click here to read our 2010 article

Date still to be confirmed: The 2nd Bavaro Brugal Merengue Festival in Punta Cana.
No news as of 20 September 2011 – the event may not be taking place this year….
Venue: To be confirmed.
Last year 2010 Fri 15th – Sat 16th @ Palma Real Shopping Plaza.
 Entrance was free to the public
Click here to read our 2010 article

November 2011

Tues 1st: The soft opening of the new Oscar de la Renta store in The Tortuga Bay Resort.
see http://www.dfnionline.com/article/Oscar-de-la-Renta-to-introduce-travel-and-lifestyle-retail-concept-1861574.html

Sun 6th: Día de la Constitución (public holiday)

7th – 13th: The 2nd Annual Dominican Republic Golf Open 2011 .
Venue: Casa de Campo, La Romana. The 2011 event will not be held in Punta Cana.
See http://www.fedogolf.org.do/eventos/dr-open-2011.aspx
Last year 2010 Tues 9th – Sun 14th Held @ La Cana and Corales golf courses in Punta Cana.
Click here to read our 2010 article

Mon 7th – Wed 9th: WBA Highrollers Classic 2011. Venue: Hard Rock Hotel Casino.
This backgammon event promises to be action packed, and guarantees a prize pool of $100,000.  The entry fee for the backgammon tournament is $5,000 with 90% return.
This event has limited places – 64 players, to be given on a first come first served basis.
For more info see www.puntacanapokerclassic.com/backgammon-tournament

Tues 8th – Sun 13th: The Punta Cana Poker Classic 2011. Venue: Hard Rock Hotel Casino.
2nd year running. Last years Texas Hold’em event was a great success, this year the prize pool has risen 500% to 500,000$US
Packages can be bought directly for $3,000, which includes 5 nights at the all-inclusive five star Punta Cana Hard Rock Hotel, the  $1500 + $150 buy-in, and a $1500 hotel credits that can be used for spa, golf, and tours from the hotel.
See their website for more info: www.puntacanapokerclassic.com

Click here to read our 2010 Punta Cana Poker Classic article

December 2011

Date to be confirmed: 3rd Annual Cap Cana Beach Polo World Cup – on Juanillo Beach (next to Secrets Sanctuary Cap Cana)
2011 event (2nd Annual Cap Cana Beach Polo World Cup) was held on February 24th – 27th.
2010 event was held on December Thurs 9th – Sun 12th
www.capcanapolo.com

Sun 25th: Christmas Day (public holiday)

Sat 31st: New Year’s Eve

Punta Cana events and happenings for 2010…  Read More→