It’s parade time in Panama

November is independence month

The month of November in Panama brings the sound of drums and trumpets as parades commemorating the country's independence take to the streets.

November parades in Panama bear the same significance as 4th of July fireworks and barbecue in the United States. From as early as May or June, thousands of school kids across the Isthmus spend long hours rehearsing in their bands, which normally include a troop of baton spinners, a large drum-and-bugle corps and an instrument section, headed by each school's honor role students wearing red-white-and-blue ribbons on their chests and carrying the Panamanian flag as a sign of distinction. Civic, religious and private institutions also take part in the parades, with members dressed in folklore attire, such as the Pollera (the country's national attire for women) and Native American and Afro-Caribbean costumes.

Panama's history is unique because it records two "independence days", both observed this month. On November 3, we celebrate the secession from Colombia and the country's birth as an independent republic in 1903. On November 28, we celebrate our independence from Spain, which took place back in 1821, and marked Panama's incorporation as a Colombian province.

Between November 3 and 28, there are literaly scores of national and regional holidays related to the events of 1821 and 1903. Some towns and cities in the interior provinces also celebrate the day in which their forefathers received the news of independence (back in those days, the news travelled on horseback in most cases.)

The following is the list of the most important holidays in November

Nov. 3 Independence from Colombia
Nov. 4 Flag Day
Nov. 5 Independence in Colón
Nov. 9 Independence in Veraguas
Nov. 10 First Cry for independence in Los Santos
Nov. 28 Independence from Spain.

Most public offices are closed on these dates.

The Mayor’s office has defined the parade routes of the upcoming November 3rd and 4th Independence Day celebrations.

Route No. 1 will begin on Calle 50 starting at the Bladex building in the Bella Vista community and will end at the Columbus University near Via Brasil.

Route No. 2 will begin at the Caja de Ahorros bank on Vía España in the Obarrio community and will move towards the Sucasa building a block before the Rey Kung Chinese restaurant.

In the interior we celebrate with even greater fervor

The historical events surrounding the declarations of independence from Spain and Colombia took place in Panama City but, curiously, residents of Chorrera, 30 km to the west of the City and Boquete which would have been several day’s hard horseback ride away, celebrate with greater fervor than in the capital.

Boquete
November, 28 is a good day to visit Boquete, the charming mountain town in the foothills of the Baru Volcano, which has become popular with expatriates and foreign retirees in recent years. Boquete is a seven hour drive from Panama City. Buses depart from the Albrook Terminal to David for services connecting to Boquete. Daily flights (one hour) depart from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport to David.

La Chorrera
Leave town early to see the La Chorrera parades which normally start between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. Take an umbrella - November is the wettest month of the rainy season.

La Chorrera is Panama City’s fastest-growing satellite town. It is not tourist-oriented although many expats have purchased second homes in and around the city in recent years.

La Villa
The events of November 10, 1821 at La Villa, province of Los Santos were powerful enough to motivate a group of Panama City gentlemen to declare independence from Spain a week later, but many aspects of how the "First Cry" actually took place remain a mystery. The average Santeño will tell you that the revolution on that day was started by Rufina Alfaro, a young, beautiful woman from the outskirts of town. The fact is that, although many parks, schools and even a Panama City district are named after her, there are no records of her existence, not even a portrait of her.

Located in the Azuero peninsula –a region considered the "Cradle of Panamanian Culture", the First Cry for Independence in La Villa is marked by colorful parades, folklore dance performances, bullfighting (bloodless), fiddling competitions and fireworks.

La Villa is located 256 kms. southwest of Panama City---a pleasant drive by car or bus. An excellent service to La Villa and Chitré departs from Albrook Terminal. There are also scheduled flights to nearby Chitré, departing from the Marcos A. Gelabert Airport at Albrook.