Contents
Which parades take place on November 3 and 4, and at what time
Panama City holds national parades on Tuesday, November 3, at 9:00 a.m., and Wednesday, November 4, at 8:00 a.m., on two routes at once. According to TVN, citing the Ministry of Education (Meduca) schedule, closures and detours begin at 6:00 a.m. both days.
| Day | Route | Time | Who marches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 3 | Route 1, Casco Antiguo | 9:00 a.m. | 32 schools and 9 independent bands |
| Tuesday 3 | Route 2, Vía España | 9:00 a.m. | 32 schools and 8 independent bands |
| Wednesday 4 | Route 1, Casco Antiguo | 8:00 a.m. | 26 schools |
| Wednesday 4 | Route 2, Vía España | 8:00 a.m. | 33 schools and 18 independent bands |
After the October 9 earthquake, Education Minister Ventura Vega confirmed on October 21 that the capital’s parades go ahead, per La Estrella de Panamá.
Routes and who takes part
Route 1 starts on Calle Tercera, at Plaza Simón Bolívar in the Casco Antiguo, and ends at Calle 26 on Avenida Balboa. Route 2 starts at the Iglesia del Carmen on Vía España and ends at the Caja de Ahorros, near the Vía Argentina Metro station. They are the same routes as last year, per La Estrella.
Schools, independent bands and security forces march. The Route 1 flag bearer is Ricardo Gago Salineros on the 3rd and Ricardo Koyner on the 4th; on Route 2, the Codicader Games champions. The November 3 band order for Route 1 is in the Telemetro list. The November 3 official ceremonies had no published program in the sources checked.
Street closures and detours
Streets begin to close at 6:00 a.m. on the 3rd and 4th. On Route 1 the marine stretch of Cinta Costera 3 closes, from Barraza toward the Mercado de Mariscos, in both directions, and metrobuses use Cinta Costera 1. On Route 2, public transport is diverted along Avenida Simón Bolívar between the Iglesia del Carmen and the Caja de Ahorros, per TVN. No official list of alternate routes exists.
- Choose the route to watch or avoid.
- Allow for closures from 6:00 a.m. if the trip crosses the Cinta Costera, the Casco Antiguo or Vía España.
- Check transport: the Panama Metro guide covers lines and hours; no special schedule was found for these days.
- Confirm exact closures with the National Police before leaving, as Telemetro advises.
Safety, health and live coverage
The National Police will deploy more than 2,700 officers on the two routes, and health and relief agencies add about 300 units. No official live broadcast had been announced as of October 28; Meduca’s channels are the ones to check.
- National Police: advises not displaying valuables, hydrating children, ensuring adult supervision and having minors carry ID with a contact.
- Rain: Sinaproc keeps a watch notice until November 15 and recommends eating well, hydrating, using sunscreen and locating first-aid posts, per Telemetro.
- Food stalls: the Fire Department will check permits, food handling and gas at 120 stalls, 51 on Route 1.
Other November parades: interior, 5, 10 and 28
Outside the capital the decision is local: Meduca said each mayor’s office and municipal council decides whether to hold parades. Four provinces canceled theirs on the 3rd and 4th, and the 5th, 10th and 28th have no confirmed schedule as of this date.
| Date and place | Status on October 28 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3 and 4, Coclé, Herrera, Los Santos and Veraguas | Canceled by Meduca regional offices (October 26) | Destino Panamá |
| 5, Colón | No route or final decision as of October 21; the mayor called the authorities | Telemetro |
| 10, Villa de Los Santos | Canceled by the Los Santos mayor’s office | Destino Panamá |
| 10, Juan Díaz | No parades; donation caravan to Azuero | Telemetro |
| 28 | No schedule announced in the sources checked | La Estrella |
For San Miguelito and West Panama no schedule for this year was found. Anyone traveling inland can check distances in Panama.
Is November 4 a holiday?
November 4, Day of the National Symbols, is not a mandatory day off for private employers. Closing offices and schools depends on a decree, and none was found for 2026 as of this date. Tuesday the 3rd and Thursday the 5th are holidays. Details are in the November holidays article, and the full year in the holiday calendar.
Radar’s article on November holidays explains which dates are days off and what closes.
FAQ
Is there a parade on November 3 in Panama?
Yes, on Tuesday, November 3 there are parades in Panama City, on the Casco Antiguo and Vía España routes. They were canceled in Coclé, Herrera, Los Santos and Veraguas.
What time are the November 3 and 4 parades?
On November 3 they start at 9:00 a.m. and on November 4 at 8:00 a.m., on both routes, per TVN. Closures begin at 6:00 a.m.
Which streets close for the parades?
The marine stretch of Cinta Costera 3 closes from Barraza toward the Mercado de Mariscos, and on Vía España public transport is diverted along Avenida Simón Bolívar. The full list had not been published.
Where can the parade be watched live?
No official live broadcast had been announced as of October 28, 2026. Meduca’s channels and those of outlets covering the parades are the ones to check.
Is November 4 a holiday in Panama?
No, November 4 is not a mandatory day off for private employers. Closing public offices and schools depends on a decree, not published for 2026 as of this date.
Related articles
- Panama’s November holidays
- Panama public holidays
- Panama school calendar
- The Panama Metro: hours and fares
- Distances in Panama
- Christmas in Panama
Sources
Checked on October 28, 2026. Routes, times and closures come from media citing Meduca, the National Police, Sinaproc and the Fire Department; Meduca’s own announcement was not yet on its site. Sources are in Spanish.
- TVN, routes, schedules, closures and detours (October 28).
- Telemetro, road closures and detours (October 28).
- Telemetro, bands and Route 1 course (October 28).
- Telemetro, routes in the capital (October 28).
- Telemetro, Sinaproc notice (October 28).
- La Estrella de Panamá, Meduca confirms the routes (October 21).
- Mi Diario, Meduca announces the routes (October 21).
- La Verdad Panamá, Meduca backs the parades (October 20).
- Meduca, coordination meeting (July 27).
- Telemetro, independent bands (October 21).
- Telemetro, Colón parades (October 21).
- Destino Panamá, provinces cancel parades (October 26).
Ask about this article
Type your question and we will show you the answer inside this article or in other Radar Panamá publications.
