Night March Kicks Off 1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment

If you are in Old San Juan early evening this Friday April 27, then checkout the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico and Living History Volunteers Night March that opens the weekend long 1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment.

According to Jose E. Lopez, Teniente Abanderado of the Regimiento Fijo de Puerto Rico, this will be the biggest Night March ever to take place during the annual reenactment.

Taking part in the march will be around 60 soldiers including flag bearers and musicians, 2 horse drawn carriages carrying ladies in period attire and about 8 cavalry.

Night March details

6pm at the Cuartel de Ballaja.
March along Norzagaray Street turning right at Plaza del 5to Centenario.
From Plaza del 5to Centenario march up to Cristo Street and then turn left at San Sebastian Street.
March along San Sebastian Street turning right at San Jose Street and down into Plaza de Armas.
At Plaza de Armas the regiments will form for the Proclamation by the Municipio de San Juan where honor guard will be represented by a visiting group of volunteers from Poland who will mark the Proclamation with musket firing.
The Regiments will then march to the San Juan Cathedral and down Caleta de San Juan to the San Juan Gate.
7:00 – 7:30pm At the San Juan Gate a Remembrance Ceremony will take place along with musket firing by the honor guard.
The march will then continue along Paseo de la Princesa to the Chamber of Commerce where there will be a private reception.
Following the reception the Regiments will regroup and will ‘march to Cristo street up the hill’. According to Jose E. Lopez, this final march is the first time in 200 years that troops have marched up Cristo Street.

The Night March is scheduled to end around 9pm

The march route covers some of the major sites in Old San Juan and should make for some great photographs.

1. Cuartel de Ballaja
2. Plaza de Armas
3. San Juan Gate
4. Chamber of Commerce

If you are able to see part of the march, why not share some of your photos on our DiscoverPuertoRico Facebook page

Don’t forget the 1797 Battle of San Juan Reenactment takes place all weekend April 27 – 29 with events on Saturday and Sunday taking place in and around El Morro Fort (Saturday) and Luis Munoz Rivera Park and El Escambron Battery (Sunday). Details here.