LIBERIA is throwing its biggest party of the year and everyone is invited. The Guanacaste capital city is celebrating the Annexation of the province to Costa Rica with its traditional Cattle Fair Expoliberia 2004.
A rainbow of entertainment is available to patrons of the fiesta, which started July 16 and runs through July 25. A horse parade is scheduled today at 2 p.m. in Liberia. Latin music lovers can enjoy a concert by the Panamanian Group “Los Nenes,” and watch the Costa Rican-style bullfights (in which the bulls are not killed) at 5 p.m. Tomorrow, farmers can bid on or sell livestock at a cattle auction at 8 a.m. A horse contest will judge various Ibero-American horses at 9 a.m. Music aficionados can listen to the tunes of Magic Juan at 4 p.m.
ON July 25, it’s dogs’ turn to shine as they show their best in the ability and obedience competition at 9 a.m. While the animals at the dog show will be calm and composed, the opposite may be true at the 11 a.m. adrenaline-pumping horse races. Attendees can’t miss tasting the food native to the area (it is considered the pride of the country). Try to watch the folklore dances and keep your ears tuned for the marimbas.
The celebrations are all part of the July 25 national holiday, which recognizes the day inhabitants of Nicoya voted to become a part of Costa Rica. The annexation of Nicoya is also known as the annexation of Guanacaste, because when annexed, the peninsula located on the northwestern end of the area was later placed in the province of Guanacaste. Formerly a part of Nicaragua, the residents in the area voted in 1824 to join Costa Rica because of general discontent over the civil wars in Nicaragua (TT, July 25, 2003).
NOW, residents of the area celebrate the annexation annually. And the Cattle Fair is not the only party reveling in the holiday; visitors can also enjoy the Cultural Week and Annexation Fair in Nicoya. The district is emphasizing cultural events, said Marialaura Salom, press officer of Porter Novelli (the company in charge of promoting the event for the National Institute of Tourism). Throughout the week, visitors can enjoy ballet, dances, and folklore presentations of national and international folklore groups from Cuba and Nicaragua after 5 p.m.
“On July 23, people in Nicoya have a different celebration. They hold the Reinado del Maíz (corn beauty contest). Contestants will walk along the streets with the tunes of a cimarrona and the dance of the payasos (people wearing masks),” Salom said. The crowning of the corn queen is scheduled for 6 p.m. July 24. The Nayuribe Group will play experimental music during the ceremony.
“LATER, Contradanza Trio will play the serenade for the queen of the fiestas,” Salom said. “Also, Lalo and Gilberto Rojas and Arnoldo Gamboa will play some trova. And people will dance with Vino Tinto Group as they add some Cuban flavor to the dancing night.”
The annexation party will end Sunday with a mascarade, a gala concert by the municipal band, and folklore presentations from Cuba and the Ticomex group. For more info on the Nicoya celebrations, call 256-0486. For more info on Expoliberia 2004’s activity schedule, call 666-2469 or 666-5505 or visit its new website at: www.liberia.co.cr.
