The city of Guantánamo will celebrate its traditional Fiestas de San Joaquín 2026 from this Friday until Sunday, with a shortened program that the authorities themselves acknowledge as "tempered to the current real conditions of the territory," directly referring to the energy crisis and shortages impacting the province.
The celebrations will be focused in three areas and their surroundings: the multifunctional square Pedro A. Pérez and the squares 28 de Septiembre (Sur-Hospital popular council) and the Youth square (CP Caribe), specified the official newspaper Venceremos.
Usual celebration spots, such as Carlos Manuel de Céspedes street, were left out of the circuit this year.
Tonight, the program kicks off with the Onda Cubana orchestra at the multifunctional plaza and Cándido Fabré at the 28 de Septiembre plaza, both starting at 10:00 PM.
On Saturday, there will be a parade of children's structures starting at 5:00 PM, followed by evening performances by Los Guasoneros, Sabor y Ritmo, and a second show by Fabré.
On Sunday, the much-anticipated parade of floats, troupes, and folkloric structures will conclude the festivities at 6:00 PM, with the closing performed by the group Bryan Omega and El Menor, as indicated by the source.
Authorities also announced inspection groups to monitor prices and prevent speculation at sales points, where payments will be accepted in cash and by transfer.
"Despite the limitations and shortages that hinder the realization of larger popular festivities, there is the will and readiness of the municipal authorities to hold the celebrations, which are part of our traditions at this time of year," emphasized Venceremos.
The backdrop of these small festivals, with over 140 years of history, is an unprecedented energy crisis. Guantánamo relies on a single 110-kilovolt line from Santiago de Cuba to connect to the national grid, making it one of the most vulnerable provinces in the country. In June, a fault in that line left the entire province without electricity.
Months earlier, in April, the power outages were so prolonged, lasting between 45 minutes and an hour of electricity per day, that residents staged pot-banging protests in the streets.
Far from improving the situation, the provincial Communist Party demanded weeks ago that citizen complaints be reduced, which exceeded 150 daily complaints regarding the electric service.
As palliative responses, the government has enabled more than 60 audiovisual viewing centers in public plazas and, at the beginning of this month, announced the construction of more than 15 community solar charging stations with an investment of 25 million pesos.
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