Viña del Mar's Nightlife and Festival Culture
Viña del Mar's nightlife — centred on the Casino Municipal and the beach strip — is the most active in Chile outside Santiago; the February Festival de la Canción transforms the city into the musical capital of Latin America for one week each year
- 1
Festival de la Canción
The Festival Internacional de la Canción de Viña del Mar – held every February at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater – has been the most important music competition in Latin America since 1960; the festival has launched or confirmed the careers of Julio Iglesias, Roberto Carlos, Raphael and dozens of other artists; the audience's theatrical rating (Monstruo — Monster — of approval vs. condor of dismissal) is the festival's most distinctive tradition
- 2
Casino Entertainment
Casino Municipal's show theater hosts international artists throughout the year; the combination of gambling, dinner shows and late night concerts make the casino the anchor of Viña del Mar's entertainment economy; the casino's New Year's Gala is the city's most glamorous event outside of the February festival
- 3
Club and bar scene
Of. San Martín and the streets around the casino have Viña del Mar's densest concentration of bars and clubs; Chilean nightlife (which starts late by European standards - clubs open at midnight and peak at 3am) is particularly active in January and February when Santiago's summer population arrives; the mix of beach culture and casino glamor defines the resort's social atmosphere
- 4
Quinta Vergara Park
Quinta Vergara – the historic park and amphitheater that hosts the Festival de la Canción – is Viña del Mar's most important public space; the park (with its botanical garden, Palacio Vergara and outdoor amphitheater) is used for concerts, events and relaxation throughout the year; the park was severely damaged by the 2010 earthquake and has been partially restored
- 5
Summer season
The Chilean summer season (December-March) transforms Viña del Mar — the permanent population of 300,000 is swollen by hundreds of thousands of Santiago residents who rent apartments for the summer; the beach, restaurants and nightlife are operating at full capacity; the resort's low season (April-November) is quieter and cooler but still functional, unlike the Argentinian resorts which close completely
- 6
New Year's fireworks
Viña del Mar's New Year's fireworks - launched from the beach and from boats at sea - are broadcast nationally and are the most watched fireworks in Chile; The combination of the Pacific Ocean backdrop, the beach crowd and the casino celebrations make Viña del Mar the New Year's destination for Chileans who can't afford Punta del Este