( CNN ) -- Havana has a thriving cultural scene and is the setting for world-class ballet and film festivals . But it 's also a city of music , sunshine and rum , and Havana knows how to throw a damn fine party . Here are some of the city 's biggest and best annual events . Dancers parade along the Malecon for the Havana Carnival . May Day ( May 1 ) Hundreds of thousands of cheering people march through Havana to celebrate International Workers ' Day . This quintessentially Cuban event offers a fascinating insight into a country where politics is woven into every aspect of daily life . Marching Cubans carry placards past images of communist heroes like Marx and Lenin in Plaza de la Revolucion square . The fact that the whole occasion is carefully stage managed by party officials adds to its uniquely Cuban air . Havana Carnival ( August ) One fiesta just is n't enough for a city like Havana , so the Cuban capital has two annual carnivals . There 's the smaller event in February , which is well worth checking out , but to experience the real deal you 're better off waiting until summer . Crowds pack the Malecon in the final two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August to hear some of the island 's finest musicians performing al fresco . The final weekend sees a colossal parade make its way from Habana Vieja to the Malecon in a swirling mass of conga lines , skimpy outfits , music and dancing -- accompanied by lashings of rum . Look out too for the `` Munecones '' , huge satirical figures of various famous faces , accompanied by the `` faroleros '' , dancers who twirl brightly colored standards as they parade along the Malecon . See Carlos Acosta 's Havana » . The International Havana Ballet Festival ( October/November , every other year ) This festival brings together international stars and prestigious companies from around the world , as well as showcasing the renowned National Ballet of Cuba , which has produced the likes of Alicia Alonso and Carlos Acosta . The festival has showcased more than 200 world premieres and performances range from classics like Swan Lake to challenging modern pieces . One of the highlights of the festival is the choice of venues , ranging from the faded grandeur of the Gran Teatro de La Habana , the city 's opera house , to open-air performances in Old Havana , where the subtly-lit facades of colonial palaces provide a wonderfully romantic backdrop . What do you think are Havana 's seasonal highlights ? Let us know below . Havana Jazz Festival ( Winter ) Cuban music has played a huge role in the development of jazz , with musicians like Chano Pozo exporting Cuban rhythms to the U.S. to create the fusion known as Latin Jazz . Cuban jazz maestro and five-time Grammy winner Chucho Valdes organizes the festival and is a regular performer , along with a host of international names . Past events have featured the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach and the present-day lack of U.S. stars is more than made up for by an impressive contingent of Latin American talent . There are performances at The Hotel Rivera , Casa de la Cultura Plaza , Teatro Nacional de Cuba , Teatro Amadeo Roldán and various smoky clubs . Although the jazz festival is usually held in December , the 2009 event took place in February , so if you 're planning a visit be sure to check the dates well in advance . The Festival of New Latin American Cinema ( December ) This 10-day festival is one of the biggest events in Latin American film , which is currently producing some of the finest cinema in the world . Movie buffs from all over the island flock to see an impressive selection of movies , ranging from Spanish-language blockbusters to obscure art flicks . Even if your Spanish is n't good enough to fully understand the films being shown , the festival still offers the chance for a bit of celeb spotting . Past attendees have included the likes of Robert de Niro , Robert Redford , Jack Nicholson , Steven Spielberg and Pedro Almodovar .
Hundreds of workers march through Havana on International Workers ' Day . Crowds pack the Luna Park promenade for the annual Carnival . The International Ballet Festival attracts world - famous dance stars to the city . Legendary jazz maestro Rafael Valdes brings jazz to the Cuban capital .