Asunción will celebrate its 489th anniversary on Saturday, 15 August 2026. A day full of parades, cultural activities, family events, fairs, and live music across the city. From the early morning until the evening, residents and visitors can enjoy free activities. Ranging from historical tours and artisan fairs to a large children’s festival and the ASUFEST 489 concert at the Costanera.
Here are some of the main activities scheduled for Saturday:
Morning activities
08:00 – Military and police parade:
The day will begin with a large military and police parade at Costanera Norte.
12:00 – Strawberry Fair:
Strawberry producers from Areguá will bring their products to La Cuadrita. Visitor and residents in Asunción’s Recoleta area get the chance to explore and purchase strawberry-based products.
08:30 – Asunción anniversary parade:
A civic parade will take place through the Historic Centre. Featuring groups, students, antique cars, and other participants celebrating the capital’s 489th anniversary.
10:00 – Chacarita, art and history:
This free guided tour will explore emblematic areas of Barrio Ricardo Brugada, better known as Chacarita.
Family activities on Palma Street
11:00 to 19:00 – Children’s Party:
Palma Street will become a large open-air playground. The fourth edition of Children’s Party brings more than 50 free experiences to the Historic Centre. The programme includes a digital planetarium, telescope observations, an inflatable cinema, robotics activities, a collaborative mural, a giant cyanotype, giant chess and tatetí, labyrinths, storytelling and creative workshops.
Nature will also take centre stage through insect-hotel construction, gardening with native species, binocular observation, experiments with photosynthetic pigments and environmental games. Paraguayan culture will feature through ao po’i and ceramics workshops organised with the Paraguayan Institute of Handicrafts (IPA). Additionally, traditional games and ancestral games from the Ava Guaraní community. The event forms part of Palmear, an initiative promoting the revitalisation and public enjoyment of Asunción’s Historic Centre. All activities are free and designed for children and their families.
Afternoon activities
15:00 – Asunción camino a sus orígenes:
Starting at Plaza Comuneros in Loma Kavara, this guided tour will explore Asunción’s history, culture and origins.
15:00 and 17:00 – City tours:
Additional guided activities will take visitors around different parts of the capital, including historical landmarks and areas of cultural interest. The anniversary programme also includes minibus tours and the “Villas del Mariscal” tour around Villa Morra.
07:00 to 22:00:
ASACIVAPA artisan fair: Plaza Juan E. O’Leary will host an artisan fair throughout the day, featuring handmade products from local craftspeople.
07:00 to 22:00:
APAR artisan fair: Another artisan fair will take place at Plaza de la Democracia, browse Paraguayan crafts and products.
Evening celebrations
17:00 onwards – ASUFEST 489:
The day’s main musical celebration will take place at the Costanera with a free festival combining popular, urban and symphonic music. The line-up includes Tierra Adentro, Talento de Barrio, the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Ciudad de Asunción and the Orquesta de Cámara Municipal, alongside maestro Luis Szarán and English tenor William Turner. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food and essential goods, which will be donated to children’s and adult care homes.
From historic tours and traditional celebrations to family activities, artisan fairs and live music, Asunción’s 489th anniversary will offer a full day of activities across the capital on Saturday, 15 August.
