This is courtesy of Norm (kelpguy), on the Gringos in and around David, Panama Forum:
Feria de la Candelaria Bugaba
Enero 26 al Febrero 3
bugaba, aka la concepción, is hosting the annual feria de la candelaria.
i caught the calbagata (horse parade) last year and it was fantastic.
the scoop...
i got the information below from a very excited panamánian fair sponsor
and it may/may not be totally accurate but here goes..
bugaba fairgrounds;
jan 26 to feb 3 ;
i asked what time the fair opened and the reply was ''in the morning''.
- agricultural fair with dairy and beef cattle judged by judges from
mexico, europe and canada.
- carnival rides
- stage entertainment in the evenings.
- many venders
rodeo;
1 feb thru 4 feb.
i believe the big main rodeo is on sat, 2 feb. i asked for details and
the reply was ''everyday''. the rodeo stadium is constructed new every
year and taken down after the event. it's built out of bamboo, old and
new boards and old metal roofing. i've been taking daily photos of the
construction process and yesterday, i noticed the bamboo floor joists
are tied down with strips of inner tube, quite a contraption!!! i
worked in construction in the states and this errr... structure would
never fly in the states but it works here.
calbagata;
- grand parade on 1 feb (friday).
i asked what time the parade started and the reply was ''in the
afternoon''. i asked what time in the afternoon and the reply was
''later in the afternoon'' : ) the parade goes from the rodeo stadium to
the parque and loops back to the rodeo stadium. actually... once the
parade returns to the rodeo, the riders just keep going around the
parade loop til they wear out : )
last year, it looked like every campesino from the campo bought his
horse to town and it get's kinda wild with lotsa drinking and lotsa
horse poop. the horse parade has some magnificent animals in it and is
a must see for horse lovers.
bugaba is located about 20 minutes west of david at the intersection of
the pan-am and the via volcan.
going up the volcan highway, the rodeo stadium is a couple of blocks up
from the volcan highway intersection and one block left of the volcan
highway (first left after union fenosa). unless you're on horseback,
you'll be lucky to find parking anywhere in the area!!!
the fair grounds are about 1.7k up the volcan highway from the pan-am.
swing left at the 'y' which is the 2nd intersection past the accel gas
station on your left. the fairgrounds are on the left just past the
'y'. ya can't miss it!!!
be sure and take toilet paper...
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