The Government will celebrate the Crystal Festivals this summer in Havana and Holguín

As Cubans endure one of the toughest summers in decades, characterized by power outages, food shortages, a transportation collapse, and rampant inflation, the Government and the company Cervecería Bucanero S.A. are placing their bets on entertainment with the so-called Fiestas Cristal.

The event, organized in collaboration with MB Producciones and artistically directed by Edith Massola, will take place this month in Holguín (on the 12th) and in Havana (on the 19th), featuring Maykel Blanco and his Salsa Mayor, Elito Revé, Juan Guillermo (JG), and Wildey.

Inverted priorities?

According to the official newspaper Ahora, in Holguín the festival will feature 16 promotional tents for Cristal beer, food stalls, and infrastructure designed to maintain the "joy" from 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

The concerts will take place at the Major General Calixto García Stadium, and admission will be free.

All this, while the neighbors of the Holguín neighborhood El Llano report entire days without electricity, and in Havana, municipalities like Centro Habana and San Miguel del Padrón experience daily outages lasting over 10 to 12 hours.

However, Cervecería Bucanero claims that these festivities are "a gift to the Cuban family" and justifies the activities as a "reward" to the public.

The truth is that spending on logistics, production, venues, security, transportation, and promotion stands in stark contrast to the situation faced by most of the country.

The same script, another year

Since 2023, the so-called "Crystal Festivals" have been celebrated in Cuba, featuring events in Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Havana.

The intention, according to representatives of Cervecería Bucanero S.A., is to "bring good Cuban music to every inhabitant of the archipelago."

But that argument sounds increasingly hollow in light of the shortage of medicines, the deterioration of the electrical system, and the daily distress of millions who cannot refrigerate food or sleep due to the heat.

Summer campaign: propaganda in the face of precariousness

These festivities arrive in the context of the official summer campaign launched by the regime under the slogan "Always Young," with the declared intention of offering "modest yet aesthetic" activities in the neighborhoods.

But even that narrative clashes with the expensive production of massive concerts, featuring high-profile artists and technical setups that demand electricity, transportation, and human resources that are clearly not available for other more urgent needs.

While the government calls to "spend free time productively" and to "use modest resources creatively," it allocates state funds and institutional logistics to late-night parties, amidst a national energy emergency.

A celebration that few can applaud

Although the concerts are free, not everyone will be able to attend: public transportation is overwhelmed, gasoline is scarce, and thousands live without knowing if they will be able to cook the next day.

In that context, many wonder if these celebrations are nothing more than a smokescreen or a desperate attempt to cover up the seriousness of the crisis with music and lights.

Ordinary Cubans do not understand how such significant resources are allocated to shows while basic products are lacking in the commercial network, hospitals are facing severe shortages, and children and the elderly are suffering the consequences of the energy and economic collapse.

The government, instead of allocating its limited resources to alleviate the suffering of the population, chooses to invest in spectacle. And it does so enthusiastically, even though most Cubans are applauding less and less.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cristal Parties in Cuba