People come from all over Colombia and even other countries to experience traditional Pacific song and dance, food, art, fashion and a generally lively and loving atmosphere. My professor told me many people come from Ecuador since they share a large part of the Pacific coast as well!
This tradition aims to educate people about and celebrate the Pacific region of Colombia. As a coastal region, the lifestyle in the Pacific is influenced by its proximity to and dependence on the ocean and for this reason is very distinct from what you’d find in other regions, such as Cali. With the festival, people from other cultures can get a (literal!) taste of what it’s like to be from another part of the country. Another primary objective of Petronio is to celebrate and increase representation of afrocolombiana culture. The festival's website describes the festival as "el festival de cultura afro mas importante de latinoamerica” (the most important festival of African culture in Latin America). For them, it is important to recognize and celebrate this population that makes up a significant part of the Colombian population.
This tradition focuses on one geographical area of Colombia with its own culture that has been influenced by its coastal environment. I had seafood for the first time in Colombia here! It was so interesting to see the same foods I’ve been eating in Cali, like empanadas, being filled with shrimp instead the meat I’m used to seeing! This region also has the influence of African culture, which has influenced everything from music to food to fashion and more.
