What's on
Paraguay month by month
Patron-saint festivals, fairs, carnivals and the weather of every month. Pick when you travel and we will tell you what is on and where to go.
Winter
July
Winter school break (in 2026, July 13–24) brings two family classics: the Mariano Roque Alonso Expo and the Areguá Strawberry Fair. In the east there are reviro and rib festivals, and on the 24th Emboscada holds its Guaikuru Ñemonde. On the 31st, many prepare carrulim for the next morning.
Events 7
Areguá Strawberry Fair
Three months of basket-fresh strawberries, smoothies, cakes and liqueurs on the main avenue of Paraguay’s ceramics town.
FairAreguá, CentralFeaturedJulExpo Paraguay (Mariano Roque Alonso Expo)
The country’s biggest showcase: show cattle, industry, trade, concerts and a food court during the winter school holidays.
ExpoMariano Roque Alonso, CentralFeaturedJulNaranjal Rib Festival
Hundreds of grills and tons of fire-roasted beef ribs at a barbecue festival that raises money for the community.
FoodNaranjal, Alto ParanáJulReviro Festival
A reviro cook-off: the humble flour dish of the eastern yerba mate plantations, made by neighborhood committees.
FoodPresidente Franco, Alto ParanáJulGuaikuru Ñemonde of Emboscada
Pilgrims dressed in feathers parade through the streets as Guaicurú warriors of old, in honor of Saint Francis Solano.
TraditionEmboscada (compañía Minas), CordilleraJul→ AugCordillera Rally (National Rally Championship)
Rally stages among the hills and villages of Cordillera, an hour from Asunción.
SportDepartamento de Cordillera, CordilleraJulKure Luque Ára
Luque's pig day: a free food fair with grilled meats, music, dance academies and crafts.
FoodLuque, CentralPatron-saint festivals 16
Virgen del Valle · José Leandro Oviedo
Patron saintJosé Leandro Oviedo, Itapúa15JulSan Buenaventura · Yaguarón
Rated by the IP news agency as the country's third-largest religious festival: a procession with horsemen beside the 18th-century Franciscan church, an arts festival and bullfighting games.
Patron saintYaguarón, ParaguaríFeatured16JulVirgen del Carmen · Carmen del Paraná
Patron saintCarmen del Paraná, Itapúa16JulVirgen del Carmen · Desmochados
Patron saintDesmochados, Ñeembucú16JulVirgen del Carmen · Villa Elisa
Patron saintVilla Elisa, Central16JulVirgen del Carmen · Villa Ygatimí
Patron saintVilla Ygatimí, Canindeyú20JulSanta Librada · General José María Bruguez
Patron saintGeneral José María Bruguez, Presidente Hayes20JulSanta Margarita de Antioquía · Iruña
Patron saintIruña, Alto Paraná24JulSan Francisco Solano · Yabebyry
Patron saintYabebyry, Misiones25JulSantiago Apóstol · Santiago
Patron saintSantiago, Misiones25JulSan Cristóbal · San Cristóbal
Patron saintSan Cristóbal, Alto Paraná26JulSan Joaquín y Santa Ana · San Joaquín
The August «Fiesta de Gala» rounds off the cycle with jineteadas (bronc riding), romerías (festive pilgrimages) and fairground rides.
Patron saintSan Joaquín, Caaguazú26JulSanta Ana · Puerto Adela
Patron saintPuerto Adela, Canindeyú27JulInmaculado Corazón de María · Mayor Julio Dionisio Otaño
Known as the capital of oranges and yerba mate.
Patron saintMayor Julio Dionisio Otaño, Itapúa30JulSagrado Corazón de Jesús · Puerto Pinasco
The date coincides with Friendship Day, which the press says began in this town: a thanksgiving Mass at the parish and a student parade.
Patron saintPuerto Pinasco, Presidente Hayes31JulSan Ignacio de Loyola · San Ignacio
Festival of Paraguay's first Jesuit mission town (1609), drawing thousands of people; its museum holds mission-era religious carvings.
Patron saintSan Ignacio, MisionesFeaturedDates this month 1
Weather, nature and tips for July
Weather
Deep, dry winter. Asunción: highs of 22 °C and lows of 13–14 °C; Central Chaco: days of 27 °C and nights of 12–13 °C.
Rain
Asunción: about 50 mm over 4 days, one of the driest months. Chaco: almost no rain (under 10 mm).
Nature
Pink lapacho trees (tajy hũ) begin to bloom, from July to September depending on the area. Flamingos gather at the Chaco's salt lagoons.
In season
Areguá strawberries, mandarins and oranges.
Tips
During school break, book accommodation in the Chaco and in Encarnación. Visit the Expo and Areguá on weekdays to avoid traffic.
Best regions
Seasons
Dec · Jan · Feb
Summer
Asunción: average highs of 33–34 °C and lows of 22–23 °C; Central Chaco: highs of 35–36 °C. Heat waves can push past 40 °C.
Intense, humid heat in the eastern region, with heavy but short-lived afternoon storms and about 130 to 180 mm of rain a month in Asunción. The Chaco gets somewhat less rain, but the heat is extreme and dirt roads turn to mud. It’s the season of school holidays, carnivals, river beaches and swimming holes in the streams.
Best for
- Paraná River beaches in Encarnación and Ayolas
- The carnivals of Encarnación and Villarrica
- Streams and swimming spots in Cordillera and Guairá
- Summer festivals in the interior (Ykua Bolaños, Hawaiian Party, Misiones Tradition)
Keep in mind
The Chaco and the Pantanal (extreme heat, roads cut off by rain), and hiking or outdoor sightseeing between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. The fishing ban (veda) runs through November and December and, in waters shared with Brazil, until the end of January.
What to pack
Mar · Apr · May
Autumn
Asunción: from highs of 32 °C and lows of 21 °C in March to highs of 25 °C and lows of 15 °C in May. Central Chaco: highs from 34 °C down to 27 °C.
The heat eases off gradually. March still feels like summer; April and May bring mild days, clear skies between rainy fronts (April is one of Asunción’s wettest months) and cool nights. In the Chaco, rainfall drops sharply from May and the ideal season for a visit begins.
Best for
- Holy Week in Misiones and Cordillera
- Cities and Jesuit reductions in pleasant temperatures
- Hiking in Cordillera and the Ybytyruzú hills
- Expos in the Chaco and the east (Neuland, Santa Rita, Pioneros)
Keep in mind
In March, the still-fierce midday heat. During Holy Week, highways and accommodation in the interior are overwhelmed: book weeks ahead.
What to pack
Jun · Jul · Aug
Winter
Asunción: average highs of 22–26 °C and lows of 13–15 °C, with cold fronts that can drop below 5 °C and occasional frost. Central Chaco: days of 26–30 °C and nights of 12–15 °C.
The dry season: Asunción gets less than 50 mm of rain in July and August, and the Chaco almost none. Sunny, mild days alternate with cold snaps, especially in June and July; homes usually have no central heating. It’s the best time for the Chaco, city sightseeing and hiking, and the season of San Juan, the Expo and the lapacho trees in bloom.
Best for
- The Central Chaco, salt lagoons with flamingos, and the Pantanal
- San Juan festivals and Kamba Ra’anga
- The Mariano Roque Alonso Expo and Areguá’s Strawberry Fair
- Pink lapachos in bloom from July
- Walking Asunción and the historic towns
Keep in mind
Swimming in rivers and streams (the water is cold). In dry years, fires and smoke increase between August and October in the Chaco, the Pantanal and the north: check before you go.
What to pack
Sep · Oct · Nov
Spring
Asunción: from highs of 28 °C and lows of 16–17 °C in September to highs of 31 °C and lows of 20 °C in November. Central Chaco: highs of 33 °C to 35 °C.
The heat returns and, with October, the rains: October and November are Asunción’s wettest months, with intense thunderstorms. September is usually dry, bright and full of flowers. It’s the season of the yellow lapachos, the arrival of migratory birds, the beer festivals of the German colonies and the big cultural festivals.
Best for
- Lapachos and blossoms in cities and along highways
- Migratory birdwatching
- Oktoberfest and the colonies’ Choppfests
- The Lake and Ñandutí festivals
- The Transchaco Rally
Keep in mind
Dirt roads after storms (the Chaco, the north and rural areas). From November 2 the fishing ban (veda) is in force: this is not sport-fishing season.
What to pack
Public holidays
Paraguay has used UTC-3 year-round since October 2024 (Law 7354/2024, which repealed the daylight-saving system set out in Law 7115/2023): clocks no longer change. It's the same time as Buenos Aires, Montevideo and São Paulo, and one hour ahead of Bolivia (UTC-4).
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day Fixed holiday. New Year’s Eve on the 31st is celebrated with family, with cider, clericó (a wine-and-fruit punch) and fireworks. |
| 1 Mar | Heroes’ Day Commemorates the death of Marshal Francisco Solano López at Cerro Corá (1870). It can be moved by decree to the preceding or following Monday: in 2026 it was moved to Monday, March 2. |
| 25 Mar | Holy Thursday Movable date (Holy Week). 2026: April 2; 2027: March 25. Cannot be moved. |
| 26 Mar | Good Friday Movable date (Holy Week). 2026: April 3; 2027: March 26. A day for chipa and the Tañarandy procession. Cannot be moved. |
| 1 May | Labor Day Fixed holiday. |
| 14 May | National Independence Day Fixed holiday; the first day of the patriotic celebrations. |
| 15 May | National Independence Day and Mother’s Day Fixed holiday. Restaurants are packed for Mother’s Day. |
| 12 Jun | Chaco Peace Day End of the Chaco War (1935). Can be moved to the preceding or following Monday; in 2026 it fell on a Friday and stayed put. |
| 20 Jun | Swearing-in of the National Constitution A new holiday since 2026 (Law 7544/2025). In 2026 it fell on a Saturday and the Executive moved it by decree to Monday, June 22. The same law allows the Executive to declare up to three additional holidays a year (in 2026, Tuesday, June 30, after the national team’s World Cup win over Germany). |
| 15 Aug | Founding of Asunción Fixed holiday; also the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption, patron saint of the capital. |
| 29 Sep | Victory of Boquerón Chaco War battle (1932). Movable: in 2026 it was moved by decree to Monday, September 28. |
| 8 Dec | Our Lady of Caacupé (Immaculate Conception) Fixed holiday; the main day of the pilgrimage to Caacupé. Highways toward Cordillera are heavily congested. |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day Fixed holiday. Christmas Eve on the 24th is the big family dinner. |