Events
Celebrate West Indian culture during Carnival
The West Indian Carnival Queen dances to
the rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music
During the Panama City Carnival, the Panamanian West Indian Museum Society (SAMAAP) is throwing its 24th Annual cultural fair for two days: Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14 at 24th Street Ave Justo Arosemena. The fair offers cultural variety to the Carnival with Caribbean food, dance, music as well as arts and crafts.
The United States Embassy is sponsoring a special presentation of the Sankofa Dancers, featuring African and American dances. The fair starts each day at 10:00 a.m., adult entrance is $4, children $1. Funds will contribute to the maintenance of the museum. For more information, call 501-4130.
Country Fairs
Panama’s fairs and festivals are colorful and lively. Country-folk are friendly and welcoming so they are excellent venues for visitors to get a taste of the ‘real’ Panama. See the schedule which follows.
Febrero 13-16 Carnavales
Febrero 13 y 14 XXIX Gran Feria Antillana Fiestas Patronales
Febrero 14 Virgen de Lourdes Guararé
Febrero 24 a 1 marzo Feria de Veraguas en Soná
Marzo 4-7 Feria en Darién Santa Fe
Marzo 4-7 Feria del Valle Tonosí, Los Santos
Marzo 8-18 Feria Colón
Marzo 11-21 Feria Internacional de san José, David
Marzo 17-21 Feria de San Jose de Tolé, Chiriquí
Marzo 17-21 Feria de Expocosta de Nuevo Tonosí Colón
Marzo 18 Patronales de san Felipe en Portobelo
Marzo 19-21 Feria de la Chitra en Calobre, Veraguas
Abril 1-4 Feria Villa Rosario Capira
Abril 2 Viernes Santos
Abril 2 Patronales de San Francisco de Padua, río de jesús, Veraguas
Abril 22-mayo 2 Feria Intl. De Azuero
Abril 27 Fiestas Patronales de Nombre de Dios Colón
Junio 3-6 Festival de Corpus Cristi Villa de Los Santos
Julio 15-22 Festival de la Pollera en Las Tablas
Agosto 12-15 XXXIX Festival del manito en Ocú
Septiembre 3-5 Expoferia Flor Espiritu Santo en las Minas
Septiembre 14-20 Feria Intl. Del Mar Bocas del Toro
Septiembre 23-26 Festival de la Mejorana en Guararé
Septiembre 29 - Octubre 3 Feria Internacional de Changuinola, Bocas del Toro
Octubre 1-3 Feria de Camarón Arriba Santa Rosa Bugaba, Chiriquí
Octubre 7-10 Feria de Isla Tigre, Kuna Yala
Octubre 13-17 Festival del Torito Guapo en Antón, Coclé
Octubre 22 Festival del Café de Río Sereno, Chiriquí
Noviembre 2 Fiesta de la Vaca Loca, Veraguas
Religious festivals
Every city, village and region in Panama has its own annual religious celebration dedicated to a patron saint. These festivals provide a colorful and charming way to experience local traditions and beliefs.
Febrero 12-14 Patronales Virgen de Lourdes, Guararé
Febrero 17 Miércoles de Ceniza
Febrero 19-21 Patronales Jesús Nazareno, Atalaya
Marzo 18 Patronales de san Felipe en Portobelo
Abril 2 Viernes Santo
Abril 2 Patronales de San Francisco de Padua, río de Jesús, Veraguas
Abril 27 Fiestas Patronales de Nombre de Dios Colón Junio 3-6 Festival de Corpus Cristi Villa de Los Santos
Huklelberry Finn classic
Auditioning now for musical Rio Grande
Director, Bruce Quinn, and musical director, Dino Nugent will unite once again this year to delight Panamanian audiences with the production of a big Broadway musical. This year their choice is the musical Rio Grande ( Big River) , winner of seven Tony awards( including best musical, best score, best music) and seven Drama Desk awards ( including best music and best lyrics). It will be staged from May 18 to June 13 in the Teatro en Circulo
Rio Grande ( Big River) is based on the literary classic, “TheAdventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. Huck’s story is full of fun and suspense as he flees down the Mississipi on a barge in the company of his friend, the runaway slave, Jim, provoking both laughter and tears in the auduience.
Anyone interested in participating can attend auditions which will be held on Sunday Febrary 21 starting at 2 p.m. at the Teatro en Circulo. For more information call 6678-6000.
Get your tickets now!
Metallica at Figali in March
One of the best-selling rock groups in American history will be in concert at the Figali Convention Center on March 8 at 8:00 p.m. Metallica's "World Magnetic Tour" starts in Lima, Peru on January 19 and includes 34 concerts. Tickets to nine of the shows on the tour have already sold out.
Some tickets are still available for the Panama City show, but those who wish to attend this one-time event are advised to purchase soon. Representatives of ShowPro, organizers of the concert here, told The Visitor that tickets will likely run out in the weeks prior to the concert. Tickets start at $47 at TicketPlus locations.
Live Jazz
Live Jazz, Bossa Nova, and Salsa Tuesday Thru Sundays every week at BUCANERO’s restaurante & Taberna. Isla Flamenco, Amador. Open from 11:30a.m. till late. For Information or reservations call 314-0881 or www.bucanerospanama.com.