Each year, usually near Independence day (celebrated on February 27), the streets of Santo Domingo come alive with song, dance and revelry in celebration. The carnival parade snakes through El Malecón as participants dressed in a diversity of colorful costumes shake their noisemakers. After the official parade breaks up, parties continue throughout the night. The main characters of this celebration are the cojuelo devils, dressed in original costumes in vivid colors topped with picturesque masks filled with horns.

Each February local and international teams from Canada, the United States, France and Italy gather at Cabarete Beach, on the North Coast of the island, to participate at this sandcastle-building event. Participants can register early in the morning during the contest days. The event concludes with a beach party.