We were lucky enough to be in Santiago, Chile, for their Independence Day celebrations, and it was such a fun experience! The city came alive with national pride, and the festivities were everywhere. The best part? We got to see how Chileans really go all out to celebrate their “Fiestas Patrias.” The whole city was decked out in red, white, and blue—the colors of the Chilean flag were everywhere. People set up fondas (little pop-up party tents) in parks and open spaces, and that’s where the real action was. There was live music, people in traditional outfits, and an overall sense of celebration that was contagious. The food was another highlight. We ate way too many empanadas, but it was impossible not to—they’re everywhere, and they’re amazing. We also tried some anticuchos, which are basically skewers of meat, and washed it all down with terremotos, which is this dangerously tasty cocktail made with sweet wine and pineapple ice cream. Let’s just say one terremoto is plenty! We spent most of the evening wandering from one event to another, checking out the parades, live performances, and even some rodeos (yep, that’s a thing here!). It was clear that Independence Day is a huge deal in Santiago, and it was so cool to be part of it. Celebrating Chile’s Independence Day was such a fun way to learn more about the country’s culture and traditions. The energy, the food, the music—it was an amazing experience, and it felt like we really got to experience Santiago in a whole new way. If you ever get the chance to be in Chile during Fiestas Patrias, we definitely recommend diving right into the celebrations!
