Overkill53 · CC BY-SA 4.0Ypacaraí
The town that gave the lake its name and home of the Lake Festival, Paraguay's great showcase of folk culture.
What it is
Ypacaraí grew up along the railway on the lake's southern shore, and it lives up to its name: the Teodoro S. Mongelós Culture House holds a mausoleum dedicated to Mongelós and to Demetrio Ortiz, composer of 'Recuerdos de Ypacaraí', and a Monument to Music recalls the trophy of its famous festival. Every year, in September or October, the Lake Festival brings together dance, theater, poetry, crafts, jazz and rock, with delegations from neighboring countries. It's the natural stop on the way to San Bernardino.
What to see and do
- The Teodoro S. Mongelós Culture House and its mausoleum honoring Mongelós and Demetrio Ortiz
- The Monument to Music
- Lake Festival nights (September or October)
- The Sacred Heart of Jesus parish church, dedicated to the town's patron
Did you know…?
The festival was first held in September to coincide with the town's anniversary (September 13); in some recent years its main night has taken place in October.
Its trophy, the 'Recuerdo de Ypacaraí', has been awarded to Paraguayan and international performers since 1976.
During the ban, residents moved the activities onto church grounds, under police surveillance.
History
The town began as Tacuaral, around the railway station opened on March 27, 1864, and was officially founded on September 13, 1887 by President Patricio Escobar. The Lake Festival was born in 1971; in 1986 the Stroessner dictatorship banned it, and in 1988 it was revived, championed by the priest Benito Páez, as a symbol of cultural resistance.
Tips
- During the festival, check the program: there are nights of dance, theater, poetry, jazz and rock at the Municipal Events Center.
- Combine it with San Bernardino, about 20 minutes to the north.
Best time: September or October, depending on the year, for the Lake Festival (in 2026, September 1 to 13).
Activities
Festivals and events here
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Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 4 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.