Public concerts in El Valle and Panama City:

The camp is an annual tradition organized by the National Concert Association.

A great opportunity to enjoy the talent of young Panamanian and U.S. musicians will be offered to visitors this month during the annual Music Camp (January 13-29) organized by the National Concert Association.

One of the highlights of the actictivity is the camp's traditional concert at the Catholic church of the mountain resort community of El Valle de Antón, located 126 km northwest of Panama City (January 28, 11:00 a.m.) A popular retreat among Panama City residents, El Valle presents many eco-tourist and leisure opportunities.

Encompassing numerous workshops and performances directed by renowed international directors, the Music Camp is a decades-old tradition in which young Panamanian musicians share the stage with students from the Oberlin Conservatory (U.S.A.)

The National Concert Association is a private, non-profit organization that promotes world-class concerts in Panama. Its regular concert season extends from April to September. For more information, call: (507) 214-7236, e-mail: luvmusic@cableonda.net

Boquete’s big festival starts January 11

Make plans. Boquete’s International Flower and Coffee Fair, the largest event of its kind in Central America, starts on January 11.

Millions of roses, petunias, daisies and other specimens from around the planet are shipped to Boquete every year to create beautiful displays and floats. Coffee lovers also enjoy sampling the grain variety produced in the Chiriquí highlands, as well as imports from major international producers.

Known as Panama’s “Land of Eternal Spring”, Boquete enjoys cool weather year round. Nevertheless, the town seems to be changing its image of a tranquil retreat community to become a center of eco-tourist adventures, including white water river rafting and rock climbing. Yet, the area’s forests continue to attract bird watchers, who look for species such as the rare Resplendant Quetzal.

The event is the second of a long list of colorful country festivals which take place between the months of December and May, taking advantage of the season’s fair weather. Other recommended, upcoming fairs include the San Sebastian de Ocú Fair (early January) and David International Fair (March).

Boquete is a six and-a-half hour drive from Panama City and about 30 minutes from David, the provincial capital. To get there, visitors can either travel by rented car from Panama City or fly to the provincial capital of David, where car rentals are also available (Flights to Chiriquí depart from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport). Another way is traveling by bus to David, and making the corresponding connection to Boquete (Buses depart from the National Bus Terminal, also located in Albrook .

There are hotels and cabins in Volcán, Cerro Punta and Guadalupe. Excellent accomodations can also be found in David. Being one of the highest points in the republic, Boquete is sweater and jacket country.

Outdoor concerts and folklore dances at the
'Administration Building'

The Panama Canal Authority invites visitors to its 'Summer Music Program' -a series of performances taking place at the steps of the Panama Canal Administration Building, in the neighborhood of Balboa. Performances will take place January 23-February 9 at 7:30 p.m. and admittance is free.

The program will include a musical show by Panamanian composer Dino Nugent, concerts by local ballad singers Solinka and Juliette Roy, folklore music performances (Osvaldo Ayala, Yin Carrizo, Ceferino Nieto and Alfredo Escudero) and a grand concert by Panama's National Symphony Orchestra.

For more information, call tel.: 272-3521, or send an e-mail to: atroitino@pancanal.com

The National Institute of Culture (INAC) invites visitors to its "Summer Season" –a series of outdoor concerts and artistic presentations held throughout Panama between January and March. Admittance is free.

Activities start January 12 in the city of Penonomé, the provincial capital of Coclé, with a pictorial exhibit at the city’s museum at 4:00 p.m. (the exhibit will extend until Jan. 24.) Later that evening, at 7:00 p.m., the National Symphony Orchestra will offer a concert at the San Juan Bautista Cathedral, downtown. Penonomé is located 149 km. west of Panama City, a two-hour drive from the capital via the Pan-American Highway.

Activities will take place in the city of Colón (an hour’s-drive from Panama City via the Trans-Isthmian Highway) towards the end of January. On Friday the 26, the city will host a musical festival including Jazz performances, theater and movies at Parque 5 de Noviembre, best known as the "Concha" (seashell) park.

INAC’s Summer Season will end on Friday, March 9 with a performance by Panama’s National Ballet, at Parque Omar, in San Francisco.

The long parade of regional festivals that spans Panama’s dry season (January-April) will make a stop in Ocú, province of Herrera this month for the town’s grand International Fair, scheduled to take place Jan. 17-22.

Ocú will honor its fame of being one of the most folklore-oriented towns in the republic with a plethora of vivid presentations by local dance troupes. These dance groups, which are made up in some cases by professional dancers and in others by elementary-school children, will give visitors an overview of the main rhythms of each part of the country.

In addition to pop and folk-lore music concerts, public dances and games, the fair will also feature agricultural and farming exhibits.

The town of Ocú is located in western Herrera and it’s approximately a one-and-a-half hour’s drive from Chitré, the provincial capital, which boasts the best lodging facilities of the region, including Hotel Hong Kong (996-4483), Hotel Versalles (996-4422) and Hotel Rex (996-4310) and Hotel Los Guayacanes (996-9758).