Culture in San Antonio de los Baños during the 40´s institutions stood out as the Circle of Artisans, the Spanish Casino and Light Society, and other organizations like the Chamber of Merchants and Industrialists, The Lions Club and Rotary Club and also engaged in activities related to culture.
At this stage continued to develop the traditional dances during the festival of El Patrón, the dance of flowers, guayabera, that of Easter and lovers and others who were celebrated with large public attendance which also raised financial funds for certain benefit social activities.
In the halls of cultural institutions also took place ariguanabenses parties of 15 by famous orchestras of the country. This was only available to a minority of the people, because they had few resources in conducting such parties in their homes, and others had to content himself remembering the date.
Graduation parties who performed the Pitman Academies, Varona, Athens and the Holy Childhood was also held in the halls of the Circle of Artisans, the Spanish Casino and Light Society.
Other activities in San Antonio, with a large participation, were parades in honor of certain historical dates such as January 28th, May 20th and October 10th. Also at the carnival with costumes, convertible wagon rides, parades, floats. All these activities were initiated with the participation of the municipal band, colorfully uniformed.
In the carnival of Ariguanabo, congas were the most popular activities that dragged the people behind the catchy music of Rafael Valdes, Rosendo Diaz and Delio Pino, rolling through the streets of San Antonio.
The carnival rides were held along the Calle Real and Martí, Máximo Gómez and Vivanco, which were filled with confetti and streamers and the public would sit along the sidewalks to watch the lively show.
Within the cultural proposals liked adults and children in San Antonio de los Banos was the circus. The town is frequented during the 40's by famous national circuses such as Montalvo and Santos, Artiga and others that settled in large or small places on the outskirts of the city, this represented a major event for the ariguanabenses and those residing in neighboring territories
Another cultural events was very popular was the cinema, with 30 cents, the viewer had a right to enjoy two movies, a medium in which they put cartoons and the progress of other films. San Antonio had two theaters: the Circle of Artisans and the Spanish Casino.
It's good for a long time mean that was a famous projectionists of the Casino Cinema, we refer to Matthias, who despite his expertise in the craft, the images were interrupted or burned from the rolls due to the poor state of movies.
Matthias was a character in this locality, and each time a roll is cut or interrupted in the screening hundreds of times angry the associated exclaim: Matthias drops the bottle! Tremendous note, Matthias!
Immediately, the lights formed film and he runs runs into this. The extraordinary skill and expertise of Matthias provide solutions to this first conflict, and a draw roll savior, guarantee the continuity of the film. A few minutes and repeat the tragedy: the roll is broken and starts shouting again. Again the lights on, ties and breaks, and until the end of the film.
For many years this pleasant man and good people from Ariguanabo, receive the affection of his people in a very original, however Matias and the bottle was always the designation for any of the operators that correspond to work that night at the movies.
The regular presence of famous circuses, film screenings at the movies, the staging of several plays, to which was added the presence of the residents of these municipalities to cozy places that favored the Ariguanabo river including La Quintica, Sink Cave, El Paso del Soldado, the Ariguanabo River Club that pleased both people to enjoy their baths or engage in fishing and sports.
At present the Ariguanabo River has lost much of its charm, its waters have been contaminated and irresponsible action and social indiscipline have deteriorated its beautiful image. However, we see now a greater awareness of the need to rescue and preserve this precious legacy, which nature has given to the residents of Ariguanabo.
As part of the cultural development of the territory during the 40's, highlighting the magazine and newspapers among them we mention the paper "Presente" for informational purposes, founded in 1945 and directed by Nicomedes Diaz Salas. In 1946 came to light as a magazine, was a serious publication, informational and partisan fought many battles for the common good people of ariguanabo.
A significant event in the cultural development of San Antonio de los Baños was also the Public Library Francisco Vivanco, founded in July 1941 over 1000 volumes donated by Julian Vivanco and support of the National Library.
The expenses of this badly Public Library were covered with a grant of 25 pesos per month and the contribution they made a small group of people interested in maintaining it. Its first librarians were, Pedro González, Juan González Silveira, Carlos Rodríguez and José María Pino.