Mancos During the San Roque Festival

The patron saint festival in honor of San Roque shapes August in Mancos. The associated period, from August 5 to 25, coincides with the district’s Tourism Week. Check the dates for the relevant year before planning your trip around them. Events are spread across several days and feature different highlights.

Festival schedule from the opening through August 17

The festival begins on August 5 with the decoration of Mancos’s main streets, a community effort involving residents and local workers. Evening novena Masses are part of the festival from August 5 to 11. The opening combines preparations around town with recurring religious events.

On August 12, the program includes an inter-institutional sports festival and the traditional visit of the sacred image to the San Roque Temple. The following day, the Alli Maqui y Hatun Sonco agricultural and handicraft fair opens. It is organized by the municipal government of the Mancos District. A gastronomic festival featuring typical regional dishes also takes place on August 13. There is a public dance in Mancos’s Plaza de Armas, and a cockfighting competition is also part of the festival program.

On August 14, San Roque is honored in Mancos with a procession accompanied by a music band. The same day’s program also includes a dance competition, a public dance, and the setting off of festive fireworks in the Plaza de Armas. On August 15, a grand Pasacalle parade takes place, with gifts for the patron saint. A competition for professional music bands is also scheduled for that day.

August 16 is the main festival day. In Mancos, the program includes a procession of the patron saint, a concelebrated Mass, and the gathering of floral offerings by the Mayordomos. The festival is also celebrated that day in Coracollo and Huarascucho. The program in Mancos also includes a bullfight in the bullring, accompanied by music and a public dance. A second bullfighting afternoon takes place there on August 17.

Choose dates based on your interests

When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the program days: August 13 brings together the fair, food festival, dance, and competition; August 16 is the main religious festival day. Another bullfighting afternoon follows on August 17. The novena Masses take place over seven consecutive evenings, while the sports festival, processions, and main Mass are scheduled for individual days from August 12 to 16.

Regional connection to Huascarán

In 2014, the Mancos District was described as the main access point to Huascarán. If you are planning a trip there, check the current route, access conditions, and logistics separately.

Discover more destinations: Carhuaz, Caraz, Santo Toribio District, Yanama District, Buena Vista, San Juan District, Chimbote, Huarmey.

For the broader travel overview: Ancash.