In general, business hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. On the public holidays we've listed, government offices, banks and schools are closed, and museum hours and transportation schedules may change.
Public holidays
January 1 New Year's Day
January 6 Three Kings' Day
January 10 Eugenio María de Hostos's Birthday
Third Monday in January Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Third Monday in February Presidents' Day
March 22 Abolition Day
March/April Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday
April 21 Jose de Diego Day
Last Monday in May Memorial Day
July 4 Independence Day
July 17 Luís Muñoz Rivera's Birthday
July 25 Constitution Day
July 27 Jose Celso Barbosa's Birthday
First Monday in September Labour Day
Second Monday in October Columbus Day
November 11 Veterans' Day
Fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day
December 25 , Christmas Day
Festivals
The following festivals are the most popular organized events in Puerto Rico. In addition to these, each town celebrates its patron saint's day ( fiesta patronale ) and the ten days leading up to it. The PRTC has details.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
Carnaval Ponce
Celebration during the six days preceding Lent, featuring parades of traditional vejigantes , or masked revelers.
MAY/JUNE
Casals Music Festival San Juan
Two weeks of orchestral music with world-renowned musicians.
Heineken Jazzfest San Juan
Four days of Latin jazz, performed by Puerto Rican and international musicians, at the Sixto Escobar Park in Condado.
San Juan Bautista Day/Noche de San Juan (June 24/23)
San Juan's fiesta patronal . Parties and festivities in Old San Juan culminate with crowds walking backward into the sea three times, in honour of St John the Baptist.
JULY
Santiago Apostol Festival Loiza
Good place to experience the customs of santería . Very African in flavor, with costumed parades and bomba drumming. Not to be missed.
NOVEMBER
National Bomba y Plena Festival Ponce
African-based drumming and singing, by performers from all over the island