We have stumbled on lots of different types of celebrations, on nearly every one of our excursions in Peru. Many times we just had to pop our head out of the window in Arequipa to see events happening in the plaza.
Most of the festivities are religious in nature, and actually not very festive. Corpus Christi is the biggest, public religious events we’ve seen. We have also seen many small religious processions, like this one headed up our street in Yanahuara.
Also, many celebrations include the military in some fashion. We watched a ceremony in Yanahuara plaza that included a military firing squad on top of the municipal building next door, for example. (See below.) The military band (also below) was following an 
Easter procession in Puno.
We’ve decided that holding a parade or procession probably doesn’t require a permit. Last week we saw a parade celebrating youth sports in the tiny town of Andahuaylas, of all places. There was nothing official about their route, other than the participants knew where they were headed, and they figured traffic would stop for them.
Even private celebrations are a big deal. I miss the wedding photo sessions we would see every weekend in the Yanahuara plaza!
p.s. Speaking of celebrations… I’m already making plans for a celebration and birthday party for Scott when we return! I can’t help it.
