My friends and I decided to visit Quibdó this weekend because the local community would be celebrating the Festival of San Pacho. The Festival of San Pacho lasts for several weeks, from September 19 to October 5. It celebrates Saint Francis, the Christian patron saint for the city of Quibdó. Saint Francis is best known for his love of animals and the natural environment.
During the festival weeks, locals take part in many long-held traditions. For one, community members paint large sets with scenes from the bible and depictions of Saint Francis. They also decorate parade floats that focus on different social themes, from political messages to religious expressions, as well as floats honoring different social groups or individual community members.
Luckily, my friends and I arrived in Quibdó just in time to see the festival in full action. I had heard that the Festival of San Pacho was an incredibly energetic and wild celebration, and it was true! The events begin with an afternoon parade. Each day during the last week of the festival, different neighborhood organizations and community groups participate in elaborate parades where they wear intricate costumes and dance to the regional music called Chirimía. The costumes I saw were colorful, and many had patterns and styles that looked like a mix of African and indigenous prints with Spanish traditional clothing styles. But most of all, the Chirimia music caught my attention. It sounded like nothing I had ever heard before--an enticing mix of trumpets, clarinets, drums and saxophones playing quick and upbeat dance tunes.
