Colombia’s gorgeous coastal city of Cartagena celebrates 200 years of independence with fun events all week leading up to the grand finale on the city’s independence day, November 11.
The city has already begun celebrating the holiday with a special concert by Spanish sound artist Llorenç Barber on Monday, as well as an LGBT pride parade through downtown Cartagena on Tuesday.
Wednesday there is another parade called the Students’ Homage to the Heroes of the Independence, in which 150 different groups from local public schools will participate.
On Friday, November 11, the city will hold its grand Independence Day Parade, which will include 180 different groups, 16 floats, 200 drummers, and the numerous Queen of Independence candidates.
The celebration wraps up Saturday with the singing group Jolgorio de Cantadoras at the Plaza de la Paz, and the election of the city’s Queen of Independence at the Chiquinquira stadium.
Cartagena will also be hosting the final round of the Miss Colombia 2011 competition at the Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias on Saturday, November 12.
Although Colombia celebrates it’s independence on July 20, 1810, Cartagena wasn’t declared a free state from the Spanish crown until November 11, 1811.