Festival de la Novilla
san sebastian heifer festival festival de la novilla popular festival puerto rico held annually municipality san sebastián third weekend january town fiesta patronales spanish patron saint feast dedicated saint sebastian weekendlong event one puerto rico best known festival drawing visitor island san sebastián located western mountainous region puerto rico close aguadilla mayagüez festival dedicated heifer novilla spanish cattle husbandry important industry region heifer young cow year old given birth yet consequently produced milk yet festival also showcase fresh agricultural product typical dish street food folk music salsa dance cultural event festival close parade float cow led heifer adorned flower crown ribbon addition showcasing town agriculture festival important region also serf fundraiser local scholarship even festival de la novilla first celebrated town celebrated similar event part patronal festival since town founding th century cow cattle raising important economy culture town region first official heifer festival held january organized club altrusa de san sebastian club founded dedicated woman business purpose fundraising improving education girl community club still organizes festival still raise fund improving service community developing educational project municipality another purpose festival today showcase old tradition visitor younger generation learn town past celebration dedicated victim hurricane maria year heifer named esperanza spanish hope heifer parade main event festival parade led heifer adorned flower crown colorful ribbon painted hoof new heifer chosen every year lead parade traditional praise applauding calling mira que linda spanish look pretty parade pass parade also includes cow themedfloats musician marching band local artist character appear parade celebration pepe represents character town crier make public announcement la titina overgarnished character represents celebration another stock character los negritos spanish little black child normally portrayed child come criticism recent year due fact child portray blackface parade start corner route route follows along route route thousand people visit participate festival year san sebastián street festival