Calendar of Events
2018 Events
January
New Year's Day 2018 - Maskarada
Maskarada, on New Year’s Day, originates from Bonaire’s Spanish founding. Completely disguised, including speech, locals from each village dress and arrive early in groups at the Lt. Governor’s home to dance and play outside wishing the family a happy New Year (Bon Aña). The Lt. Governor thanks them with a bottle of rum, held and dispensed by a designated member.
Antillean New Year's Concert
Friday January 26th, 2018 at the San Bernardo Catholic Church there will be a concert
with european and Antillean music; vocals, flute, piano, organ, saxophones, kwarta, wiri and more. Organized by the Classical Music Board of Bonaire. For tickets: Addo's Bookstore and Valerie's Airport shop.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' January 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteDive Friends Quarterly Clean Up Q1
On Saturday, January 27th, we're hosting another quarterly Clean Up Dive. We'd like to invite you all to come by and help keep Bonaire blue and beautiful! Please help us get the word out to your friends and guests.
Check in for volunteers will begin at 9:45am at COCOS BEACH, with a briefing for all volunteers at 10:00 am. Please don't forget your certification cards (if we don't already have yours on file). We'll be cleaning up in front of COCOS BEACH(BARI REEF). Please make sure to have your BMP tags along with you, as is required.
We’ll be collecting as much fishing line as possible, so please bring along your dive knife or shears. You can contact Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire for more information about their turtle shaped line collectors. sue@bonaireturtles.org
Non-divers are also needed to help with counting and logging the items removed from the water for PADI Project AWARE Dive Against Debris. The counting and logging will be conducted at Yellow Submarine after the dive.
At 6:00 pm, we'll be hosting a potluck BBQ for our volunteers at our Hamlet Oasis location. It’s a potluck, so please bring a snack, side-dish or dessert to share and we'll provide the main course and one beverage.
Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please call 717-2929.
Visit WebsiteFebruary
Taste of Bonaire Event 2018 (Carnival Edition)
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handcrafts and all things offered on Bonaire. On top of that, visitors will have the opportunity to taste signature dishes of well-known restaurants offered at special prices @ Wilhelmina Park Starts at 6pm.
Children Carnival Parade 2018 In Rincon
The district of Rincon demonstrates its Carnival spirit with the presentation of its own children parade.
Children Carnival Parade 2018 In Kralendijk
Youth Grand Parade in Kralendijk includes all of the island’s different carnival groups. Hundreds of children enjoy the opportunity to show off their dance skills and colorful costumes.
Gran Carnival parade 2018 In Rincon
This is a prelude to the Grand Carnival Parade. Local musicians create an exceptional ambiance in Rincon by playing their latest carnival hits to the delight of hundreds of marchers dressed in resplendent costumes.
Gran Carnival Parade 2018 in Playa
The largest carnival parade is the Grand Parade through Kralendijk held on Sunday before Ash Wednesday. This parade is filled with unforgettable music, spectacular floats and original costumes decorated with colorful stones, sequins and feathers, creating a unique display.
Carnival Monday 2018 (Official holiday)
Old Mask Youth Parade and burning of King Momito.
The end of the carnival season is marked with a parade ending in Kralendijk followed by the symbolic burning of “King Momito” which takes place on the parking lot of the stadium.
Start at 5pm.
Old Mask Parade and Burning of King Momo 2018
Carnival comes to an official end on the eve of Ash Wednesday with the burning of ‘King Momo”. This event takes place in Kralendijk. Start at 7pm.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' February 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteMarch
Piano Concert
On Friday, March 9th, the Classical Music Board Bonaire will be organizing a top piano concert!
The Piano Concert takes place at Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire and will start at 8pm.
With performances by Gwylim Janssens and Lestarie Scholten. Tickets are on sale for $30 and are available at Addo's Bookstore, Valerie's Airport shop and Joshantie's Book & Office Supplies.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' March 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteApril
Monday Easter day Simadan (Harvest) Festival Rincon 2018
Simadan stems from Bonaire’s slave days and celebrates the growing season’s harvest (typically March/April). The festive harvest celebration in Bonaire varies from other places, perhaps, as a direct result of the way slaves on Bonaire were treated.
Bonaire’s slaves grew crops for owners and some were permitted personal crops as well, a “liberty” not usually afforded to slaves elsewhere. Personal gains gave Bonairean slaves reason to celebrate at Simadan, while slaves in Curacao, for example, witnessed harvest going only to the owners and lamented instead.
After Bonaire’s slavery abolition in 1863, most slaves received land. Together, families took turns helping to harvest and celebrating the crops throughout Simadan. Similarly today, families and friends gather to help harvest sorghum and maize, while the farmer supplies food and drink (rum) for the party.
Taste of Bonaire Event 2018 (Ban Wapa Edition)
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handcrafts and all things offered on Bonaire. On top of that, visitors will have the opportunity to taste signature dishes of well-known restaurants offered at special prices @ Wilhelmina Park Starts at 6pm.
King's Birthday 2018 (Local Holiday)
An official government ceremony in honor of King Willem Alexander. Is followed by numerous events and celebrations. @ Kralendijk.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' April 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteDia di Rincon Cultural Event 2018
Rincon Day is a special day on the island of Bonaire, where the focus is in the oldest town of Bonaire and the Dutch Caribbean. Visitors can enjoy an array of local cuisines and listen to local music and traditional dances. All of these activities take place in the center of Rincon where locals and visitors meet and enjoy several cultural festivities.
Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) will be participating in the grand parade, with their group named: TCB & friends Culture Group.
May
Labor Day 2018 (Legal Holiday)
Labor Day (Legal Holiday) No Event. Shops, Banks and Offices are closed. Simadan Parade “Chana y Doei” in Kralendijk.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' May 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteRestaurant Week 2018
From May 28th till June 3rd over 20 restaurants will exceed your expectations with a special Restaurant week menu. For only $27,50 you can enjoy a culinary three-course menu at any of the participating restaurants.
Visit WebsiteJune
Miss Tourism Bonaire
Organized by Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB).
Coralpalooza 2018
Coralpalooza is an international event dedicated to coral restoration in celebration of World Oceans Day! Come dive with Coral Restoration Foundation Bonaire to learn more about Bonaire’s beautiful coral reefs and what we can do to protect and restore them. For more information and to sign up for the event at: www.crfbonaire.org/coralpalooza.
Visit WebsiteE Chispa di Wan i Pedu
In connection with the cultural celebration of San Wan and San Pedu, SKAL together with the tourism office is organizing the 'bulamentu di kandela' (fire jumping). This event will take place on June 22nd, starting at 7pm at Plenchi di SKAL. Kaya N.E. Craane #34
Body Awareness Week
From June 25th to July 2nd come and join Body Awareness Week. For more information check www.gogreenayurveda.com
Visit WebsiteCultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' June 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteJuly
PADI Women's Dive Day
In honor of this year’s PADI Women’s Dive Day this coming July 21, Dive Friends Bonaire and Mindful Diver would like to invite you to take part in our event. The theme we have chosen this year is Healthy Bodies; Healthy Oceans and we are looking for relevant sponsors to support our efforts.
Healthy Bodies; Healthy Oceans
The event begins at 9 am and lasts until 1:00.
Event details: A morning of yoga, diving, and food to celebrate the amazing women of the world who dive, in support of the PADI Pillars of Change. This event begins at 9:00 with a welcome ceremony and reef safe sunscreen application demonstration. Immediately following there will be a 40 minute invigorating yoga practice set to music on the beach followed by one of the islands largest community fun dives ever. After the dive there will be a potluck of healthy food to refuel our bodies and minds. There will be a raffle with wonderful prizes courtesy of our sponsors. Please bring your yoga mat, dive gear, and a healthy delicious dish to share.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' July 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteQuarterly Clean Up Dive
On Saturday, July 28th, we're hosting another quarterly Clean Up Dive. We'd like to invite you all to come by and help keep Bonaire blue and beautiful! Please help us get the word out to your friends and guests.
Check in for volunteers will begin at 9:30 am at North/Town Pier, with a briefing for all volunteers at 10:00 am. Please don't forget your certification cards (if we don't already have yours on file). We will be cleaning up the area around the pier(under strict terms we are not allowed under the pier due to safety reasons). This area receives a lot of trash from the cruise shos and fishing line is abundant along this stretch. Please make sure to have your BMP tags along with you, as is required.
We’ll be collecting as much fishing line as possible, so please bring along your dive knife or shears. You can contact Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire for more information about their turtle shaped line collectors. info@bonaireturtles.org
Non-divers are also needed to help with counting and logging the items removed from the water for PADI Project AWARE Dive Against Debris. The counting and logging will be conducted at Yellow Submarine after the dive.
At 6:00 pm, we'll be hosting a potluck BBQ for our volunteers at our Hamlet Oasis location. It’s a potluck, so please bring a snack, side-dish or dessert to share and we'll provide the main course and one beverage.
Hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please call 717-2929.
If you can’t make it on Saturday, but are interested in helping with another clean-up project for the eastern coastline, please visit www.debrisfreebonaire.com for more information.
August
Taste of Bonaire Event 2018 (Recycle Edition)
At the Taste of Bonaire, visitors will have the opportunity to experience food, culture, local handicrafts and all things offered on Bonaire. On top of that, visitors will have the opportunity to taste signature dishes of well-known restaurants offered at special prices @ Wilhelmina Park Starts at 6pm.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' August 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteSeptember
Bonaire Flag Day 2018 (Legal Holiday)
A local holiday where the entire island of Bonaire celebrates the existence of the island. Most of the time it is held within a chosen town on Bonaire where locals and visitors dance, eat, drink on the streets with several entertainment bands. The Motorcycle event is also one of the major highlights of this day where over 400 participants with their motorcycles are flown in from around the world and take a tour of the island as part of the national Flag Day ceremony.
Bonaire Clean up Day
Organized by Selibon N.V.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' September 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteOctober
Bonaire Sailing Regatta 2018
The 51st edition of the Bonaire Regatta takes place from 10th-13th October 2018. During this event the bay will be filled with sails from all kinds of sailing divisions, all competing for their class championship.
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' October 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteNovember
Cultural Event 'Nos Zjilea' November 2018
Cultural Event ‘Nos Zjilea’
This event has a fusion of local arts & crafts, plants & vegetables and educational presentations. Enjoy the delicious food while listening to some of the best local musicians as they play live at cultural park Mangazina di Rei located at the east-entrance of Rincon.
The event is from 8am till 2pm.
Visit WebsiteDecember
Bonaire Christmas Shopping Night 2018
At the Bonaire Christmas Shopping Night, visitors will have the opportunity to experience amazing shopping with discount in most of the stores in Kaya Grandi and Kaya Grandi adjacent. On top of that, visitors will have the opportunity to see the elderly Christmas themed parade.
And also local Christmas dishes will be available downtown.
@ Kaya Grandi and kaya grandi adjacent start at 6pm till 10pm.