Preparations are well underway for the week-long National Livestock Fair and beauty pageant beginning June 16 in Colombia’s northern state of Cordoba, Colombian media reported on Wednesday.
As the fair celebrates its 54th anniversary, organizers in the city of Monteria will align with tourism authorities to showcase the festival to as large an audience as possible, according to Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper.
One of the most popular events of the fair is the annual beauty pageant, the “Reinado del Rio,” which showcases some of the most aesthetically-pleasing feminine aspects of the region.
Cordoba’s Governor Alejandro Jose Lyons said that the fair is not only the most important event in Cordoba, but one of the most renowned national and international competitions, according to newspaper El Universal.
This year the two ambassadors of the fair are Monteria celebrities — singer Adriana Lucia and boxing champion, Miguel “Happy” Lora. They will join the 40,000 visitors whom every year enjoy a variety of concerts, shows, and food, as well as regional and national exhibitions, reported El Tiempo.
The fair is the main commercial window into the state of Cordoba and an important event commemorating the area’s history while celebrating its culture and heritage. The event also commemorates the founding of the state of Cordoba on June 18, 1952.
The National Livestock Fair debuted in 1959, offering northern Colombia a chance to demonstrate the wealth of its livestock. Nowadays it represents the annual efforts of ranchers from the surrounding areas and attracts industrial and commercial businesses from both the private and public sectors from across the country.
Monteria is the capital of livestock in Colombia, providing the main source of income and employment. The surrounding area boasts national heritage villages such as Lorica, the white sand beaches of San Antero, and San Bernardo del Viento, which offers over six miles of peaceful beaches and warm waters.
Sources
- Monteria, lista para su gran fiesta (El Tiempo)
- Se ‘prendio’ la tradicional fiesta ganadera en Monteria (El Universal)
