san-jose.cr

After Christmas, the masses of San Jose gather to celebrate the New Year season at the traditional eastern neighborhood of Zapote. Normally starting by December 25^th and ending to exhaustion on the first day of the new born year, the Grand Fair has been a rotund success for many decades.

An amusement park, endless rows of temporary bars, typical food joints, concerts, fireworks and Tico-styled bull fights all are made available for the enjoyment of the visitors, from early in the afternoon until early hours of the morning.

Perhaps the biggest attraction is the Arena, where the very special and one-of-a-kind Costarican Style of Bullfighting takes place. Amateur men and often a woman enter in large numbers while sizeable bulls are released to make for enjoyable and comic sight. NO BULLS ARE KILLED during the events as “Ticos” are very fond of animal life and could not bear the systematic killing of the beasts for simple leisure.

As the area around the Fair becomes very congested –especially as night falls-, it is not advised to take one’s car but instead arrive by cab or using the bus system. Despite strong law enforcement it is also advised not to take more cash than necessary and to avoid the showcasing of pricey objects such as collars and other jewelry.

The prices tend to be relatively fair, and as many options exist for different budgets, one should find little problem in managing to have as much fun as reasonably affordable.