FOR CALENDAR SECTION
Events
and
Festivities
December 2008 and January 2009
THINKPANAMA
DECEMBER 2008
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Panama’s Mothers Day
December 8, 2008
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Panama’s Mothers day is celebrated on December 8th, due to the Holy Virgin’s Day of the Immaculate Conception, a catholic personification of Virgin Mary.
This is very important holyday for all the Panamanians, a day where all the family gets together to honor the mothers and pay tribute to them with a lunch or dinner. This meal is usually cooked by the rest of the family.
Some families pay to a “Mariachi Band” and visit the mothers of the family to sing them.
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High Lands Fair, Volcan Chiriqui Province
From:
December 11, 2008 to December 14, 2008.
What to do?
The High Lands Fair is one of the most popular events in Chiriquí, especially among tourists due to the cool weather, amazing spots and countryside atmosphere.
Volcan has a unique attraction health, beauty and youth: The famous springs and their healing qualities of its waters, especially helpful for those suffering rheumatism and fatigue.
Also in Volcan you can taste varieties of coffee produced from all across the country and from places like Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru.
Getting There
From Panama City, drive through the Panamerican Highway up to David, province of Chiriqui. Continue further to Boquete, located 35 kms. from David
Weather:
Montain Climate and average temperature is 40ºF
Our recommendations
You need to take jeans, sneakers or boots, hat, bathing suit, and a light jacket for the evenings.
Christmas in Panama
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December 25th, 2008.
Panamanians have a peculiar way to celebrate Christmas, there are tons of activities to do, but at the ends is a gathering among family and friends.
Food is very important during this festivity, because the process itself unite the entire family. In all the Panamanian homes ham cannot be missed, although the turkey is quite popular as well.
Places to go
In most 5 stars hotels
a divine buffet is offered with dessert included and of course a nice band, while some others prefer to spend holidays in the interior like Los Santos Province or even in High Lands in Chiriqui.
Our Recommendation
Book the spot as early as possible and be sure to have a designated driver, because every place you visit, eggnog with rum is the official drink.
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December 31st, 2008.
New Year’s Eve is a festivity where everybody uses fashion and elegant clothes, no matter where you are, people will be extremely well dressed. Abundant food must garnish the family table.
Mysticism and superstitions join this celebration, and whether you believe them or not, are part of the Panamanian culture.
One of these believes is that around 12 o’clock 12 grape seeds must be eaten in order to begin the year with prosperity and abundance and if your wish is to travel next year, you must carry out luggage and take a walk around the corner. You will see this costume in the entire country, especially in popular neighborhoods.
Places to go
There are several places to go and have some fun during New Year’s Eve like the Coast Way of Amador, one of the best spot to watch and admire the tons of fireworks in the Panamanian sky.
Others prefer to go to Bocas Del Toro and spend a Caribbean holiday. This is one of the best choices to choose.
Las Tablas and La Villa De Los Santos in Los Santos province is another favorite spot to go, because its celebration is quite similar to a Carnival, but not so packed, giving you the opportunity to appreciate the folklore and traditions of this beautiful province with all the spectacle and luxury that these kind people can offer.
Our recommendation
If you are visiting the interior, book a hotel as early as you can. Los Santos and Herrera province are one of the favorite places to be visited by tourist and locals.
If you don’t have a car be sure to book one before holidays, otherwise get the service of a local tour operator.
JANUARY 2009
January
10th -20th 2009.
Flower and Coffee Fair, Boquete, Chiriqui
. This festival is one of the grandest celebrations of flowers in the world, drawing thousands of people to Boquete for 10 days. Expect lush flower displays, food stands, live music, amusement rides, handicrafts booths, and hotel rooms booked far in advance.
Getting There
From Panama City, drive through the Panamerican Highway up to David, province of Chiriqui. Continue further to Boquete, located 35 kms. From David.
Our recommendations
You need to take jeans, sneakers or boots, hat, bathing suit, and a light jacket for the evenings.
Hotel rooms booked far in advance.
January
14th -17th 2009.
VI Panama Jazz Festival
ATENCION: BAJAR LAS FOTOS Y LOGO DEL PANAMA JAZZ FESTIVAL EN:
http://www.panamajazzfestival.com/pty_6/press/index.html
The famous music player Danilo Perez, through his philanthropic Foundation invites everyone to assist to the VI Panama Jazz Festival. Every year Perez honors an important Panamanian musician of this genre. The coming festival will be dedicated to bass player, composer and arranger Clarence Martin Sr., one of the historic figures of the Panamanian jazz scene starting in the 1940s, whose work directly affected several generations of musicians.
Concerts and Events during the festival:
Monday, January 12
4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Concert at Teatro Ascanio Arosemena, artists: TBA
Tuesday, January 13
4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Concert at Teatro Ascanio Arosemena, artists: TBA
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Wednesday, January 14, 4pm
Afternoon Concert at Teatro Ascanio Arosemena, artists: TBA
Gala Night 8:00 p.m.
At National Theatre Teatro Nacional presented by The Spanish Embassy
Jazz,
Flamenco, Mediterranean Music
Invited Artists:
With Haggai Cohen Milo, Jonathan Juanito" Pascual, Tupac Mantilla and Osvaldo valo Jorge.
Thursday, January 15th, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Concert at Teatro Ascanio Arosemena, artists: TBA
Gala Night 8:00 p.m.
At Anayansi Theatre Teatro Anayansi, Atlapa
Invited Artists:
Chucho Valdés Quintet
Marco Pignataro Quintet
with
Eddie Gómez
,
Billy Drummond
, Mark Krammer and Matt Mervuglio
Friday, January 16th
4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Concert at Teatro Ascanio Arosemena, artists: TBA
Night Concert:
Gala Night 8:00 p.m.
At Anayansi Theatre Teatro Anayansi, Atlapa
Invited Artists:
Wayne Shorter Quartet
with
Danilo Pérez
,
John Patitucci
and
Brian Blade
Luba Mason and her band: Kava
with
Hubert Laws
,
Jimmy Haslip
and
Rubén Blades
Saturday, January 17th, 1:00 P.M.
Free Concert at Plaza Catedral, Casco Viejo
Getting There
From the City to el Casco Viejo is easy to get there. You may take a taxi to drive you to the Old Quarter Casco Antiguo where you may observe the various sites or monuments of interest offered by this beautiful place.
Our Recommendations
You need to take light clothing and hat, a portable chair to enjoy of this free, amazing jazz concert. And plenty water, although water sale is on every corner.
Besides this wonderful concert, you may enjoy at the same time of the following activities:
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Arts & Crafts Tours
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Cultural Tours
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Expeditions
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Historic Site Tours
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Religious Tourism
January
16th -27th 2009.
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International Fair, Chorrera
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A Cultural Fair full of Folkloric performances, cattle sales, agricultural sales and handicrafts. It is a place to eat typical Panamanian food and to appreciate this culture from another point of the Nation.
Chorrera is a well known town due to the diversity of food, especially the “Bollo Prenao” a tamale made of sweet corn filled with pork or chicken and also a special drink made of corn known as “Chicheme Chorrerano”. This cannot be missed on your way to the fair.
There multiple activities inside the fair and the entrance cost is around only 3$.
Getting There
Chorrera is a town across the Americas Bridge Puente de las Americas going to the interior. Once you pass the Arraijan Highway
you must make a right turn and follow the billboards that will guide you to the fair.
Our Recommendations
Be sure to wear sneakers, hat, plenty water and light clothes.
January
16th -21th 2009.
San Sebastian Fair, Ocu, Province of Herrea
The Ocú-district in the province of Herrera, is a picturesque village packed with folk customs and traditions in which its inhabitants have managed to preserve and project the rest of the country.
To celebrate their roots, “Ocueños” locals from Ocu have two events held annually summits that highlight the work and lifestyle of the people of this district; these are the
“ Ocueño Manito Festival” another folkloric fair , which is celebrated in the month of August, and the Fair San Sebastian in January.
Like most national fairs, people honor a catholic saint,
The Patron Saint
of this District:
whose feast day is celebrated on January 20.
Activities of the fair:
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Typical Panamanian Dances
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Typical food and drinks
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Cattle sale
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Agricultural sales and handicrafts
Getting There
Take the Pan-American High way, after Aguadulce Town in the province of Cocle, take the left turn at Divisa’s bridge. Ocu is located in the Province of Herrera.
Our Recommendations
Be sure to wear sneakers, hat, plenty water and light clothes.
January
17th -20th 2009.
Eastern Sector Agricultural Fair, Tanara Chepo
Fair Tanara in Chepo has become the most anticipated event of East Sector of Panama
An average of 100 exhibitors and owners of seats that are engaged in various activities, waiting for the visit of some 60 thousand people.
There are exhibits of livestock, agricultural inputs will promote, sell cars, real estate and offers banking services, telephone, Internet, cable, among others.
There are also typical food and beverage to serve visitors who are expected for the four days of exhibition.
. Some 900 people are estimated to work in Tanara during the fairs.
Getting There
Chepo is located on the east side of the province of Panama, passing Tocumen’s Airport. Let the
taxi driver that you are going to Tanara’s fair.
Our Recommendations
Be sure to wear sneakers or even better boots, hat, plenty water and light clothes.
January
25thth – February 3rd 2009.
The Candelaria Virgin Fair, Bugaba Chiriqui.
The Candelaria Virgin’s Fair is an event dedicated to the patron saint of the district Bugaba, and it is a purely commercial activity, which takes place from 44 years ago.
The first version of the fair was held in 1959 in a local timber that was in front of the park from La Concepcion, in the district of Bugaba.
En ese terreno actualmente está ubicado el edificio del Banco Nacional de Panamá. In this area is currently located the building of the National Bank of Panama.
The land of the fair have an area of seven hectares, put up for visitors to appreciate all the attractions they have, for instance the variety of flowers and crafts.
At the fair there will also be an area with fun rides, dance halls, various meals, selling cotton candy, fried plantains, the famous churros,
apple candy, popcorn and typical food.
A new building has been built, so the visitors can
appreciate the domestic and foreign and also new
galleys have been built for livestock exhibitors.
Getting There
Bugaba district is located 15 minutes from the district of David, Province of Chiriqui, known as "the breadbasket" or the dairy province .
Our Recommendations
Be sure to wear sneakers or even better boots, hat, plenty water and light clothes. Book a hotel in advance.
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