Concerts, fashion shows and watersports are among the attractions on offer during a summer festival in Colombia’s central department of Meta this weekend.
Marc Anthony, Oscar D’Leon, los Hermanos Rosario and 24 orchestras will play at a concert on the final day of the “Manacacias” festival in Puerto Gaitan.
More than 60,000 tourists are expected to attend the event, which will take place at a natural aquatic beauty spot 120 miles from Villavicencio, the departmental capital.
An international volleyball tournament and a national beach football competition are among the sporting attractions taking place. For fashion lovers, the Spring Summer collection of designer John Estrada will be launched, and Colombia’s Model of the Year will be elected.
The mayor of Puerto Gaitan, Edgar Silva, said that almost $1.3 million had been spent on the festival despite the city having serious shortages of water and health services.
Silva said the festival had been paid for “by combining contributions from the private sector and some resources from the municipality,” and that the event would boost the region’s economy.
The 2012 Marancacias Summer Festival runs from January 6 to 8. For more information, visit the town’s website.
