San Juan Festival at El Mbigua: Tradition, Live Music, and the World's Largest Judas Effigy

The Club Nacional de Regatas El Mbigua is preparing for a vibrant traditional celebration, "San Juan en el Mbigua," scheduled for Saturday, July 11. The event, open to members and non-members, promises an evening filled with authentic Paraguayan cuisine, cultural entertainment, and artistic performances along the river.

Attendees can savor a menu rich in traditional flavors, featuring iconic seasonal dishes such as mbeju, pajagua mascada, pastel mandi’o, sopa paraguaya, chipa guasu, and chipa so’o. Complementing the culinary offerings will be popular games like carrera vosa, kambuchi jejoka, pelota tata, and toro candil, designed to engage both adults and children. The undisputed highlight of the night will be the ceremonial burning of a massive 12-meter-tall Judas effigy, which organizers are touting as the largest in the world.

The festive atmosphere will be further enhanced by a colorful array of traditional dance troupes and live music performances. Scheduled to perform are the groups La Nuestra, La Fusión, and Jopara Folk, alongside DJ sets from Jorge “Conejo” González and DJ Robert Pachioni. Access to the club is available by land or by boat, with free entry for members. Non-members will pay a general admission fee of 20,000 guaraníes. Table reservations are also available for groups of four (60,000 guaraníes) and ten (120,000 guaraníes).