Join Cultura Plenera for a Fiesta Navideña, a celebration of Puerto Rican holiday traditions. These traditions are rooted in centuries of Spanish influence which resulted in holiday-specific songs, foods, drinks, and celebrations. All of these will be featured by Cultura Plenera accompanied by the beat of Los Hijo ‘e Plena and guest artists from Puerto Rico that will add musical elements strongly associated with the holidays. These include the Spanish acoustic guitar and the “cuatro”, a guitar-like instrument unique to Puerto Rico played mostly in the island’s country music which is predominant during the holidays.

This celebration is for the entire family, so bring them and your friends to start, the holidays like a Boricua! Holiday foods and beverages will be available for purchase during the event.

This event will be preceded by separate workshops and a conversation about specific traditions such as parranda, promesa, coquito, pitorro, pasteles, and the Three Wise Men. Make sure to sign up for those too! 

* Boricua is a term of endearment used by Puerto Ricans to refer to themselves that comes from Borikén, the name given to the Island by indigenous Taínos who inhabited Puerto Rico for hundreds of years before the Spanish arrived in 1493.

Important: Please note that 100% of the revenue from this event and all workshops are to benefit the Sandy Spring Museum. Cultura Plenera is donating their labor, the cost of all materials, and expenses associated with our guest artists. We encourage you to support this fundraiser in appreciation of this fantastic organization that has become the home of Puerto Rican culture in the DMV. Thank you!!

General Admission

General admission is $10 per person. SSM members receive a 20% discount. Not a member? Join today!

General Admission Tickets

 

Workshops 

All workshops are held at the museum from 11:30am-1:00pm. Workshops are held simultaneously.

Coquito – A Puerto Rican Holiday Libation

Got Coquito for the holidays? Learn to make Coquito with this hands-on workshop that will include instructions and all the ingredients you will need to make and leave this workshop with a bottle of Coquito personally flavored with either Classic, Almond, Coconut or Coffee Clandestino Pitorro. This workshop will sell out, so register early.

 

Workshop Registration Fee: $25 per person. SSM members receive a 20% discount.

Register

 

Plena Master Series – Parrandas, Promesas & Reyes Magos

We invite you to join Tito Rodriguez, Axel Rodriguez, and Kily Vializ for a presentation about parranda, promesa, and Three Wise Men traditions. This presentation will explain these holiday traditions and will include demonstrations of each. Special emphasis will be placed on the history and current practice of these holiday traditions. Come prepared for a refreshing conversation about these beloved Puerto Rican cultural traditions.

 

Registration Donation = $5 per person. SSM members receive a 20% discount.

Register

 

 

Pastelada – A Family Pastel Making Workshop for the Holidays

Pasteles is a food from Puerto Rico that is traditionally prepared and eaten during the holidays. Making pasteles is a family event, in which everyone gets involved, from old to young, in getting the ingredients to prepare, and the best part, eating pasteles. In some cases, it is a community event. If you want to learn about the preparation and family camaraderie while making authentic Puerto Rican pasteles join the Acosta family in this fun-filled and savory workshop. We will demonstrate how to pick the ingredients, make the “masa,” cook the meat, and assemble the pastel. So, join us for a fun time and to try some tasty authentic Puerto Rican pasteles.

Workshop Registration Fee: $20 per person. SSM members receive a 20% discount. 

Register