Colombia to celebrate 43rd annual Vallenato Festival

The city of Valledupar in north-eastern Colombia will be filled with the sound of music from Tuesday, with the opening of the 43rd Festival of the Legend of Vallenato.

The annual five-day event, which this year will pay homage to legendary Colombian composer Rafael Escalona, will involve performances and competitions between some of the best in the genre.

The popular folk music festival will be inaugurated on Tuesday afternoon with a special visit by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and his family, who will take part in the rituals and ceremonies customary to the event.

Following this will be music and dance performances by over 70 vallenato groups from around the country, with both children and adults taking part.

Visitors to the festival will also be treated to shows by some of the biggest names in Colombian music – including Diomedes Diaz, Daniel Calderon y Los Gigantes and Pipe Bueno – taking place in the city’s Cacique Upar Coliseum.

The festival will take place in Valledupar from April 27 to May 1.

To find out more, click here.

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