This is going to be a fun month!

Events coming up include the University cinema’s “Month of Laughter,” music festivals, a national surf championship, traditional Costa Rican and American celebrations and a “Night at the museum(s)”.

4th of July Picnic
For all the Americans who are going to be in Costa Rica for the Independence Day, the American Colony Committee organizes this annual picnic at the Cervecería Nacional near the International Airport from 9 am to 1 pm. Enjoy a piece of homeland culture with food, music, shows, sports and a flag raising ceremony. Fireworks at the Avenida Escazú at 7 pm make this day complete.

Under Rock Festival
This music event is lead by five different bands and a DJ rocking the stage at Mundoloco el Chante in San Pedro on the 4th of July at 7 pm.

International Calypso Festival
For the second time the Calypso Festival happens in the Caribbean town Cahuita this weekend, July 4th-6th, including national and international music acts, sports, games, and more: the festival has something to offer everyone.

Fashion Week
Visit the most important fashion event of Costa Rica this month. From July 10th to 13th national and international designers present the new trends with live runways, shows and workshops at the Antigua Aduana in San José.

Art City Tour
This event gives you the chance to see many of the museums and galleries in San José for free from 5 pm to 9 pm on July 16th. The provided shuttle take you from one spot to another.

Precolumbian Art
Pieces of pre-Columbian art you can see at the museums in San José during the Art City Tour (Photo by redcultura.com)

Two traditional Costa Rican events
The week-long festival of the Virgin of the Sea (July 13th to 20th) in honor of the patron saint Carmen comes along with horse parades or colorful regattas in Puntarenas and in Playas del Coco. Another event is the Day of Guanacaste (July 25th) celebrating the annexation of Nicoya from Nicaragua with rodeos, parades, typical food and music acts in different cities.

Gran Final Reef 2014
On the long weekend, July 25th-27th, the best surfers of Costa Rica flock to Playa Hermosa (near Jacó) to show their skills and try to return home with the title “National Champion”. The competitions will take place from 7 am to 4 pm daily and are accompanied by shows of “Las Chicas Reef”, concerts and parties in the surrounding beach bars, an air show and last but not least the big award ceremony.

University Cinema
July’s theme of the free movies on the campus is “Month of Laughter”. Comedies like Some like it hot, La loca historia del mundo, Shhh! Top secret! and many more are shown on Thursdays and Fridays starting with a discussion at 5:30 pm and the actual screening at 6:30 pm at the Auditorium of Law (Avenida 13, San Pedro).

Also check out the regular events going on around the capital.