Asunción CityParaguay travel guide
ItauguáCmasi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Patron saintFeatured

Virgen del Rosario

Patron-saint festival · Itauguá

7 octOctober
Directions

What it is

In the birthplace of ñandutí (Paraguay's delicate spiderweb lace): procession, arts festival, torín (Paraguayan-style bullfighting), asado a la estaca (meat roasted on stakes) and jineteada (bronc riding).

Traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday of October (October 4 in 2026).

The fiesta patronal (patron saint's festival) is the biggest day of the year in every Paraguayan town. It honors the local patron saint or Virgin with a novena (nine days of prayer), a serenade on the eve, a main Mass and a procession with a brass band, firecrackers and flags. Then comes the secular side: a kermesse (village fair) on the plaza, karu guasu (a big communal feast), chipa (cheesy cassava bread) and sopa paraguaya (savory cornbread) at the food stalls, dancing, torín or Paraguayan-style bullfighting (the bull is never killed), jineteadas (rodeo-style bronc riding) and carreras de sortija (a horseback ring-lancing race). As a visitor, arrive early for the procession, be respectful during Mass, try the food cooked by the parish committees and ask for the program at the church: dates often shift to the nearest weekend.

Dates may shift to the nearest weekend.

What to see

Itauguá

Itauguá · Central

Itauguá

The capital of ñandutí: handmade 'spiderweb' lace, sold right along Route PY02.

Festivals and events here

Verified · sep 2026

Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with — sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.