Holy Saturday in Cuenca — Expo Feria, Folk Ballet, Ruta de Leyendas & More

A Full Day Before the Easter Vigil

Holy Saturday in Cuenca isn't just about waiting for the Easter Vigil tonight. The city has stacked today with events — cultural, culinary, artistic, and spiritual — that make this one of the most activity-packed days of Semana Santa.

Here's everything happening today, April 4, in one place.

Expo Feria Cuenca 2026 (April 3-12)

The Expo Feria Cuenca 2026 kicked off yesterday and runs through April 12, making it a fixture for the entire holiday stretch and into Foundation Week. This is Cuenca's big annual fair and expo — think local businesses, artisan vendors, food stalls, agricultural displays, and live entertainment under one roof.

If you've been in Cuenca for a previous Expo Feria, you know the drill: it's part county fair, part trade show, part excuse to eat too much. If this is your first one, it's worth a visit. The energy is very Cuenca — festive without being overwhelming, with plenty of local products you won't find elsewhere.

The fair runs daily through April 12, so you don't have to cram it into today. But if you're looking for something to do this afternoon before the Easter Vigil tonight, it's a solid option.

Folk Ballet at Parque San Sebastián and Parque de La Madre

Today features folk ballet performances at two of Cuenca's most beloved parks: Parque San Sebastián and Parque de La Madre.

These are open-air performances showcasing traditional Ecuadorian dance — expect colorful costumes, Andean music, and choreography that tells stories of indigenous and mestizo culture. The folk ballet events during Semana Santa tend to draw a mix of locals and tourists, and the park settings make them relaxed and family-friendly.

Both parks are easy to reach on foot from El Centro, and the performances are free to watch. Grab a bench, bring a coffee, and enjoy the show.

Ruta Especial de Leyendas — Theatrical Walking Tour

One of the more unique offerings this Holy Saturday is the Ruta Especial de Leyendas (Special Route of Legends), a theatrical walking tour that brings Cuenca's myths and legends to life through costumed actors and storytelling.

There are two time slots:

• 4:00 PM — Departs from Parque Calderón
• 7:00 PM — Departs from Museo Catedral Antigua (the Old Cathedral Museum)

Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for children.

The tour winds through the historic center with stops where actors perform scenes from Cuenca's local legends — stories of ghosts, miracles, and colonial-era figures that have been part of the city's oral tradition for centuries. It's part theater, part city tour, and entirely in Spanish, though the visual storytelling makes it accessible even if your Spanish is still developing.

The 7:00 PM tour has the advantage of starting at dusk, which adds atmosphere — plus the church illuminations from Fundación Iluminar will be on, giving the historic center an ethereal glow.

Sacred Art Exhibition: "Del Calvario a la Gloria"

At Todos Santos, the exhibition "Del Calvario a la Gloria" (From Calvary to Glory) is on display — a collection of 20 artworks exploring the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ through the lens of Cuenca's artistic tradition.

Admission: $3.

Todos Santos is one of Cuenca's most atmospheric churches, perched above the Tomebamba River with views of the old town. The combination of the sacred art, the church's own history, and the Holy Saturday timing makes this feel especially resonant. Even if you're not religious, the craftsmanship of colonial and contemporary sacred art in Cuenca is genuinely impressive.

III Banquete de la Trucha — Trout Festival in San Sebastián

For something completely different: the III Banquete de la Trucha (Third Trout Banquet) is happening today in the San Sebastián neighborhood. This food festival features 18+ vendors all serving dishes built around trout — one of the highland staples you'll find on menus across the Sierra.

Expect trout prepared every way imaginable: grilled, fried, in ceviche, in encocado (coconut sauce), smoked, and more. Ecuadorian trout — farmed in cold highland rivers and lakes — is genuinely excellent, and a festival dedicated to it means you'll find preparations you won't see on regular restaurant menus.

San Sebastián is an easy walk from the historic center, and the festival atmosphere should be lively. Come hungry.

Tonight: Easter Vigil at the Cathedral — 10:00 PM

As a reminder, tonight brings the Easter Vigil (Vigilia Pascual) at the Cathedral of the Immaculada Concepción, beginning at 10:00 PM. This is the most significant liturgical event of the entire Catholic calendar — the moment the Church transitions from the darkness of Christ's death to the light of the Resurrection, marked by the lighting of the Paschal candle in a darkened cathedral.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, with masses at the Cathedral running from 9:00 AM through 8:00 PM.

What This Means for Expats

• The Expo Feria runs through April 12, so don't feel pressure to go today — but it's a great option if you want daytime activity before the evening events
• Folk ballet performances are free at Parque San Sebastián and Parque de La Madre — bring a jacket, April afternoons can turn cool quickly
• The Ruta de Leyendas at 7:00 PM is the pick for atmosphere — dusk, illuminated churches, costumed actors. Book your $10 ticket in advance if possible
• The trout festival in San Sebastián is perfect for a late lunch before the walking tour or Vigil. Eighteen vendors means plenty of variety
• The sacred art exhibition at Todos Santos is only $3 and pairs perfectly with a walk along the Tomebamba. Don't skip it if you appreciate visual art
• For the Easter Vigil tonight, arrive by 9:30 PM to get a seat. Dress warmly — the Cathedral is cold at night. The service runs past midnight
• Parking will be challenging near El Centro today. Walk, take a taxi, or use the tranvía if your route allows it
• Restaurants in El Centro will be busy for both lunch and dinner. If you have a preferred spot, consider going early or making a reservation

Holy Saturday is one of those days where Cuenca shows you everything it has — food, art, music, theater, and faith — all in a single afternoon and evening. Pick two or three things and make a day of it.

Source: El Mercurio