Curaçao in December: Christmas, pagaras and New Year’s Eve

Language & culture · 3 min read · Checked November 8, 2026

Short answer

December is one of the liveliest months on Curaçao. It falls in the rainy season, but most days are still warm and sunny. The island celebrates Christmas on 25 and 26 December, Willemstad is full of lights, and in the last days of the year the pagaras go off: long strings of firecrackers lit to chase away bad luck. On New Year’s Eve the fireworks go on for hours.

The weather

The rainy season runs from October to January, says the Meteorological Department of Curaçao. Curaçao is a dry island, so this means some showers, not days of rain. Skies are usually clear to partly cloudy.
It is warm all year, and the trade wind from the east keeps it pleasant.
The sea averages about 27°C over the year.
Hurricane season ends on 30 November. Curaçao lies on the southern edge of the hurricane belt, and no hurricane or tropical storm has ever made direct landfall on the island.

Holidays and opening hours

25 December, Christmas Day, and 26 December, Second Christmas Day, are public holidays. Many shops and offices close.
31 December: many businesses close in the afternoon.
1 January, New Year’s Day, is a public holiday and a quiet day on the island.

December is a popular month to visit. Book your car, tours and Christmas dinner early.

Christmas

Punda, the old shopping centre of Willemstad, is decorated with lights in December.
There are Christmas markets with local food, crafts and music. Dates change every year, so check the Curaçao Tourist Board events calendar.
In the Santa Run, a few days before Christmas, hundreds of people dressed as Santa run through Willemstad and over the floating Queen Emma Bridge.
Try the Christmas food: ayaka (meat filling wrapped in banana leaves), keshi yená (stuffed cheese), bolo di kashupete (cashew cake) and ponche crema, a creamy spiced drink. Many restaurants and hotel Christmas buffets serve them.

Pagaras: the New Year firecrackers

A pagara is a long string of firecrackers. Lighting one chases away bad spirits and welcomes the new year. Businesses and neighbourhoods light them in the last days of December, most of all on the afternoon of 31 December.

The biggest is in Pietermaai on 31 December, from early afternoon, with a street party, live music, DJs, bars and food stalls. It is loud and smoky: bring sunglasses, a hat and ear protection for children.

New Year’s Eve fireworks

In the days before New Year there are free public fireworks shows. Come early, they get crowded.
At midnight, good places to watch are Brionplein in Otrobanda and Handelskade in Punda, or the beach clubs at Jan Thiel and Mambo Beach.
Around Spanish Water the houses on the bay set off fireworks for hours, best seen from the water.

After New Year: Carnival

The Carnival season starts in the first week of January. Read about Carnival 2027.

Sources: Meteorological Department of Curaçao, Curaçao Tourist Board holiday guide and Curaçao Chronicle, 30 December 2025.

Photo: Christmas decorations in downtown Willemstad, by Thank You (23 Millions+) views, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like on Curaçao in December?

Warm and mostly sunny. December falls in the rainy season, which runs from October to January, so expect some showers. Hurricane season ended on 30 November.

Are 25 and 26 December holidays on Curaçao?

Yes. Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day are both public holidays, and so is 1 January. Many shops and offices close on those days.

What is a pagara?

A long string of firecrackers lit at the end of the year to chase away bad luck and welcome the new year. The biggest one is in Pietermaai on the afternoon of 31 December.

Where can I watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks on Curaçao?

Brionplein in Otrobanda and Handelskade in Punda are the main public spots. The beach clubs at Jan Thiel and Mambo Beach are good too.

What do people eat at Christmas on Curaçao?

Ayaka, keshi yená, bolo di kashupete and ponche crema. At New Year many people eat oliebollen.