The historic town of Portobelo, known during the colonial period as the host of the largest commercial fair of the Western Hemisphere, is about to regain its former status –this time, as the host of a cultural fair encompassing music performances and art exhibits. The first of these modern Ferias de Portobelo, will take place on Saturday, June 4.

Ferias de Portobelo 2005 is the name of a project launched two years ago by painter Arturo Lindsay, the Asociación Cultural AlterArte and Taller Portobelo, directed by the artist and long-time Portobelo resident, Sandra Eleta.

Following the pattern of the first version of the event, which took place in 2003, this year’s Ferias de Portobelo will feature a parade of Panamanian and international musicians, art exhibits and theater performances. The theme of this year’s fair will be "The Encounter of Cultures". Exhibits and performances will be held throughout town, and outdoors.

Founded by the Spanish, Portobelo was Panama’s main maritime port during the colonial period. Merchants from Seville began using the port as a showcase of goods that attracted people from all over the world. These fairs lasted for months and grew year after year until they started to catch the attention of pirates and buccaneers, who attacked and destroyed Portobelo a number of times.

A system of forts and castles was build to protect the city, the ruins of which are a popular tourist attraction today.

Boasting one of the best guarded bays on Panama’s Caribbean coast, Portobelo is also one of the best diving sites in Panama. The residents of this town and surrounding hamlets are mostly of African descent and have developed a humorous folklore expression known as Congo culture –a satire of slavery during the colonial period.

Portobelo is 100 km. north east of Panama City.

For more information, call Roberto Enrique King: 264-4560 or Arturo Lindsay: 448-2124.

Some of the most vivid folklore performances of the season can be enjoyed in the town of La Villa, province of Los Santos, during the Corpus Christi festival, which ends this Sunday, June 5.

The celebration, which dates back to medieval Spain, is a mixture of the religious fervor of the Roman Catholic faith and native traditions, both of which are strong in the Azuero Peninsula (the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos). The combination results in ten days of color, dances and humor, best represented by the diablicos sucios (dirty devils), odd-looking characters depicting the triumph of evil following the death of Christ.

Visitors are especially encouraged to attend the festivities on Tourism Day (June 4), which will feature, dances and recreational activities for all ages. Activities formally conclude with Women's Day (June 5), on which the ladies of La Villa, dressed in costume, will harrass and scare visitors throughout town.

Buses to La Villa at the National Bus Terminal, located in Albrook. Visitors can also fly into Chitré on daily, scheduled flights departing from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, also located in Albrook.