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- Decorated oxcart parade (La Carreta Decorada) — The literal heart of the festival: huge, colorfully painted oxcarts rolled through town, each one a piece of folk art and local pride. Watching the detail on the wheels and panels — hand-painted motifs, clever scenes, and the slow procession pulled by animals or horses — is unexpectedly moving. (Personal favorite: it’s loud, photogenic, and full of small-town soul.)
- Traditional music and dance — Live conjuntos típico, drummers and singers keep the tempo while dancers in traditional steps and outfits perform regional choreographies. It’s less polished stage show and more communal shout-and-dance — you feel the music in your bones and it’s easy to join in or just stand close and watch the energy build.
- Pollera and costume showcases — The pollera
- Decorated oxcart parade (La Carreta Decorada) — The literal heart of the festival: huge, colorfully painted oxcarts rolled through town, each one a piece of folk art and local pride. Watching the detail on the wheels and panels — hand-painted motifs, clever scenes, and the slow procession pulled by animals or horses — is unexpectedly moving. (Personal favorite: it’s loud, photogenic, and full of small-town soul.)
- Traditional music and dance — Live conjuntos típico, drummers and singers keep the tempo while dancers in traditional steps and outfits perform regional choreographies. It’s less polished stage show and more communal shout-and-dance — you feel the music in your bones and it’s easy to join in or just stand close and watch the energy build.
- Pollera and costume showcases — The pollera and other traditional garments get their moment: embroidered fabrics, metal jewelry, hair ornaments and careful dressing rituals. Seeing how much time and skill goes into these outfits makes the whole event feel like a living museum — but one where everyone still laughs and eats at the end of the day.
- Artisan stalls and miniature carretas — Local craftspeople sell hand-carved mini oxcarts, woven goods, woodwork and silverwork. It’s a great spot to pick up honest souvenirs and watch makers at work — often you can haggle a bit and score something that cost a day’s labor to produce.
- Street food, family feasts and late-night vibe — The food scene is everything: roadside stands dishing up hearty home-cooked plates, fresh fruit drinks and sweet treats, all eaten while the band plays and kids run around. Evenings turn into a loose street party with a friendly, messy atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re being adopted by an extended Panamanian family for the night.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.