Enjoy Free Outdoor Concerts this Weekend From San Jose to Puntarenas to Liberia.

When Costa Rica’s ideal climate mixes with summer’s promise of clear blue skies, weekend activities go outdoors and music fills the air. This is especially noticeable mid February through March when the country experiences an influx in outdoor events and concerts (many of them free) that serve to fill up your schedule and make you fall in love with the country all over again.

Whereas January and February are mainly characterized by the new year civic fiestas throughout the country from Zapote to Palmares to Santa Cruz and ending in Liberia and Puntarenas this weekend, March sees an influx of cultural events including international and classical concerts, art festivals and more.

One of the most popular locales for outdoor concerts in the capital city of San Jose is the Parque Morazan, which is anchored by the 12-story Holiday Inn in Barrio Otoya just south of Barrio Amon. In the center of the park is the Templo de Musica, which was constructed in 1920 as a replica of the Temple of Love and Music in Versailles. The arched round stage has played host to orchestras, bands and important political speeches throughout the year, and passing by you may find anything from local street jugglers, an arts festival, a rock bank or salsa concert.

This weekend the park will play host to Cuban salsa music with a concert by Mario Mayito Rivera, the lead vocalist of the group Los Van Van, who will share the stage with another Cuban group Chocolate. The concert will kick off at 6 p.m. and is free of charge for anyone in the area to stop by. Except the front row to turn into a dance floor as Ticos have plenty of salsa moves of their own that they are happy to share in front of a crowd.

Another weekend option that promises to offer endless entertainment is a trip to the final weekend of the Fiestas Civicas de Liberia, the biggest parties of the year in this capital city of the Guanacaste province. Every day offers bull fights, typical music, horse parades, fireworks and more. On Saturday at 5 p.m. visitors will be awarded with a free international concert by Kike Neira from Chilean reggae group Gondwana, Puerto Rican reggaetoners Angel y Khriz and Costa Rican reggae group Mekatelyu. Food and refreshments (mainly beer) abound at the fiestas, just be sure to bring your suntan lotion as temperatures in Liberia will be in the 90s!

The culmination of the Puntarenas Carnavales will occur at the same time this weekend in the popular port town where the Paseo de los Turistas (the beachside boulevard where cruise passengers disembark) will be packed with concert stages, parades and more. While the day will be filled with marching bands and carnival style parades, several simultaneous concerts will begin at 8 p.m. this Friday and on Sunday, and at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Saturday at noon marks the biggest concert with the only international group, Los Pericos from Argentina, who will perform alongside Costa Rican group Marfil. Evening concerts will showcase Costa Rica music groups and DJs including Demorama, Libertad Kondicional, El Pucho y Las Tokolas, Chess, El Prins y el Chris, Alma Suicida, Sleep vs Party, Dj Tigre, Dj Kevin, Bless, DJ Rambi, DJ Frank and Rowland. All events are free and all the action will be on the Paseo de los Turistas.

For true music lovers, the fun won’t end this weekend, as a concert by the Mexican rock group Café Tacvba has been scheduled for March 7th at La Guácima with tickets starting around $20 and available on www.todoticketcr.com.

Keep checking back for more updates on outdoor events and concerts this Summer in Costa Rica!

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Filed under: Costa Rican Music on February 19th, 2009