On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Government of Aruba—under the Ministry of General Affairs, Nature, Ministry of Environment, and Culture—along with the National Days Celebration Commission (CCDN) and UNOCA, will join forces to celebrate Dia di San Juan (St. John’s Day) and Dera Gay. This cultural initiative will bring the festivities directly closer to our people.
Under the slogan “Ban celebra Dia di Dera Gay den bario” (Let’s celebrate Dera Gay Day in the neighborhood), the activity aims to promote and strengthen Aruba’s cultural heritage, bringing the tradition of San Juan to the public and creating opportunities for direct participation from both adults and children during the celebration. Between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM, a cultural trailer featuring various representatives from the Government of Aruba, CCDN, and UNOCA—alongside several musicians, singers, and dancers—will visit several locations, starting at Bushiri Complex, moving to the Dakota Neighborhood and Sports Center (Centro di Bario y Deporte Dakota), then to Mabon Kavel, and culminating in a grand finale past the bridge at the Carnival Village in San Nicolas.
This initiative is born from the conviction that culture must be shared with one another. Dera Gay is not just a celebration, but an important symbol of our national identity and a tradition that has been a part of Aruba for several generations. By bringing the celebration directly into the neighborhoods, the organizers seek to strengthen our cultural pride, encourage community participation, and keep the traditions that identify us as a people alive.
During the parade, the community will be able to enjoy an interactive cultural program with music, dance, traditions, and competitions typical of Dia di San Juan. Grupo Masiduri will be in charge of presenting the traditional San Juan dance, while Grupo Cariño will provide the musical entertainment.
Additionally, the public can compete in various cultural activities, including:
Jumping over fire (Bulamento di candela)
Rooster crowing competition
Hen clucking competition
Longest rooster crow competition
Flag-hunting competition
Dera di Gay competition (traditional blindfolded harvest game)
There will be different prizes for residents who participate.
Dera Gay Cultural Parade Schedule
The celebration will take place in a single parade that will stop across four different neighborhoods:
First stop: Bushiri Complex
Second stop: Centro di Bario y Deporte Dakota
Third stop: Mabon Kavel, Caya Butishi
Fourth and final stop: Carnival Village (Grand Finale), San Nicolas
The cultural trailer will pass through different districts via several of Aruba’s main roads.
Route to Bushiri Complex:
Paradera Roundabout → Sero Patrishi Roundabout → E.J. Watty Vos Blvd. → Madiki Kavel Roundabout → Frankrijkstraat → Bushiri Complex.
From Bushiri Complex to Centro di Bario y Deporte Dakota:
Bushiri Complex → Frankrijkstraat → Madiki Kavel Roundabout → E.J. Watty Vos Blvd. → Codemsa Roundabout → Caya Betico Croes → Tarabana Roundabout → Dadelstraat → Caya Juancho Kock → Pampunastraat → Centro di Bario y Deporte Dakota.
From Centro di Bario y Deporte Dakota to Mabon Kavel:
Centro di Bario y Deporte Dakota → Pampunastraat → Caya Juancho Kock → Dadelstraat → Tarabana Roundabout → Caya G.F. Betico Croes → Cumana Roundabout (formerly CODEMSA) → Airport Roundabout → Pos Chikito Roundabout → Savaneta → Cura Cabay → Brazil → Mabon → Caya Butishi → Mabon Kavel.
From Mabon Kavel toward Carnival Village:
Mabon Kavel → Mabon → Caya Bernadina Growell → Brazil → Wendy’s Cura Cabay (T-junction) → San Nicolas Roundabout (FTA) → Bernhardstraat → Carnival Village San Nicolas.
From San Nicolas back to Paradera:
Carnival Village → Bernhardstraat → San Nicolas Roundabout (FTA) → Savaneta → Drive Inn Roundabout → Macuarima → Santa Cruz Roundabout → Piedra Plat → Paradera Gas Station.
Residents living along the route are also invited to come outside and enjoy the cultural atmosphere as the trailer passes through their neighborhood (district) on its way to the next destination.
The grand finale will take place at the Carnival Village in San Nicolas, where participants and our community will gather to conclude a night filled with tradition, music, joy, and cultural pride.
The Government of Aruba, CCDN, and UNOCA invite all residents—especially those in Bushiri, Dakota, Mabon, and everywhere along the route—to actively participate in the celebration and be part of a unique cultural experience that unites all generations and strengthens our national identity.
Dera Gay 2026: Culture in the neighborhood, tradition in the heart of our people.
