Traditions and Festive Events in Baños Throughout the Year
By Discover Baños
12 Sep 2025
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6 min read
In Baños, February brings Carnival, but don’t picture samba parades or floats. Here it’s a playful street battle. On the last day, always Tuesday, the whole town joins water fights with balloons, buckets, foam, and even eggs. Laughter fills the streets, strangers become allies or rivals, and by night everyone is soaked, united in the fun.
September is the Month of Tourism. Locals organize free excursions, hikes, and cultural activities. The program changes each year, so ask what’s happening when you arrive—chances are you’ll be invited to join a walk, a workshop, or a community event.
October honors the Virgen de Agua Santa, patron of Baños. Each neighborhood takes a turn, hosting a week of festivities with masses, processions, food stalls, music, and dancing. Ask which barrio is celebrating, and you’ll find both devotion and fiesta: traditional Ecuadorian music, games, and neighbors ready to welcome visitors.
November 2nd is Día de Finados, when tradition is tasted and played. Families prepare colada morada, a thick purple drink made with corn flour, Andean fruits, and spices. It is served with guaguas de pan, bread shaped and decorated like children. In the streets, crowds gather around boliche games, where balls are thrown into two holes and bets are placed on whether the result is odd or even. It’s noisy, competitive, and deeply rooted in memory.
December celebrates the cantonization of Baños. Among its highlights is the wooden car race, where handmade vehicles—crafted by locals—descend steep roads for several kilometers. Two people share each car: one steers while the other pushes to gain speed. The race is equal parts danger, creativity, and laughter. The month also features the pregón, a street parade of dancers and comparsas, and a civic parade where schools and institutions march with bands and tributes.
Finally, New Year’s Eve transforms Baños into a stage of satire and fire. During the day, men dress as “viudas”, mock widows asking for coins to support their baby dolls. At midnight, the años viejos—dummies made of cardboard and old clothes—are burned in the streets. Flames consume the effigies of the year gone by, believed to take away its misfortunes. Amid sparks and laughter, Baños welcomes the new year with hope and joy.
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