Dande music is an Aruban tradition played to welcome the New Year. In the past Dande groups visited Aruban homes signing their songs and wishing everyone a happy New Year. Each year a Dande festival is organized to keep this tradition alive. Children and adults compete against each other for the title Dande King, Dande Queen and Dande King of Kings.

Comedian Ray Ellin who returned and performed on Aruba several times, returns to the stage in the Westin Resort and Casino. His ‘Aruba Ray’s Ellin Comedy Show’ will feature NYC talents Brain Scott McFadden, Ted Alexandro, Chuck Nice and Lenny Marcus.

The Nieuwjaarsduik (New Years Plunge), an originally Dutch tradition that started in 1965 is also being organized on Aruba. Every year on January 1st at 12 PM hundreds of people ran into the ocean at Palm Beach to welcome the New Year. This year a record number of locals and tourists participate in the New Year’s Plunge.

One of Aruba's most beloved end of the year traditions ended on Epiphany/Three King’s Day, the day the lights of Seroe Preto in San Nicolas were switched off. The lights will be turned on again in December 2014, welcoming another holiday season.

First of all we of VisitAruba would like to wish you all a very happy New Year and all the best for 2014. Traditionally Aruba is a very special place to spend New Year’s Eve, as locals and hotels treat Aruba with spectacular fireworks shows to officially welcome the New Year.

As part of the Aruban tradition various businesses and households close the end of a year with the lighting of a pagara, a long string of firecrackers. The noise and smoke are supposed to ban any evil-minded spirits and bad vibes. As always the pagaras of Renaissance Aruba Resort and Aruba Marriott Resosrt were one of the best attended spectacles on December 31st 2013.

After opening the Aruba Carnival 60 season with great fanfare, Tecla Kelly, President of the Stichting Arubaanse Carnaval (SAC) foresees a much grander Carnival. More groups and extra sections are expected, as well as special activities for our seniors and international guests.

Leonid Kozlov, Director of Kozlov Dance Academy, and his wife, Adriana, to perform the leading roles next week Tuesday, December 17th with their sensational choreography and thereby introduce young and old to classical ballet.

Beth Stipanov, “Ultimate Fashion Experience” Sweepstakes winner, and her husband Luka enjoyed an all-inclusive 7-night stay at the Divi Aruba with upgraded in-room amenities and treats and received a VIP tour of Aruba in Style Fashionweek by Layana Aguilar, fashion design celebrity.

Each year, an increasing number of special athletes participate in the Aruba Special Olympics, hoping to win some medals to qualify for and be part of the Aruba delegation at the Special Olympics World Games.

The four young athletes will be representing Aruba in Guatemala from October 10th to October 14th, for which they have been training thoroughly during the past five months.

Aruba Renaissance management was thrilled to present an entire weekend of remarkable events. Beginning with a fashion show on Friday by local designer Bergeny Del Mar as part of the Aruba in Style Fashion Week. On Saturday with a food festival where International chefs demonstrated their culinary artistry at the Renaissance Marketplace which ended with a free tasting of authentic local dishes with Antonio “Joselito” Albertz, a native son, and from Orlando, Florida celebrity cake baker Mercedes Strachwsky. It was a thrill for Renaissance guests to meet and sample the tasty creations of the two celebrity chefs.