The San Pedro festivals, also known as the Folkloric Festival, National Bambuco Pageant, and International Folklore Showcase, are a series of celebrations that are part of the nation's cultural heritage.

Every year, in mid-June and July, the San Pedro festivals are celebrated in the Huila region, specifically in the city of Neiva, in the southwestern part of the country. These festivities, as their full name indicates, include a folkloric festival, which involves the National Bambuco Pageant and an international showcase of the region's folklore.

The tradition of celebrating the San Pedro festivals originates from the Catholic custom, which for many years was imparted by the Spaniards during the conquest to honor Saint John the Baptist. Later, this celebration also became known as the festivals of San Pedro and San Juan. Since 1970, it has been called the Folkloric Festival, National Bambuco Pageant, and International Folklore Showcase.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Activities You Can't Miss During the San Pedro Festivals

The San Pedro festivals offer a rich cultural experience that includes music, dance, parades, and gastronomy, celebrated in all 37 municipalities of the region. Some activities you shouldn't miss are:

Parades

Enjoy the parades at the San Pedro festivals
Credit: Miguel Llano

Experience the parades and cultural activities of the San Pedro festivals

During the San Pedro festivals, numerous parades take place in the city's neighborhoods featuring impressive and colorful decorative floats. The most recognized are:

Traditional Welcome Parade. One of the events that inaugurate the San Pedro festivals. This includes the candidates for the National Beauty Pageant accompanied by musical bands and dance troupes.

Grand National Folkloric Parade. An event where the candidates for the National Bambuco Pageant appear on colorful floats decorated with motifs related to their region, accompanied by musical groups, dancers, and troupes from their delegation. A must-see at the San Pedro festivals.

Water Parade. One of the most colorful events of the San Pedro festivals. Large decorated canoes sail with the candidates for the National Bambuco Pageant along the Magdalena River (the most important river in the country) as a tribute to the river and the mythical beings that are part of the regional idiosyncrasy.

About the Bambuco: It is a musical genre and a traditional Colombian peasant dance that originated during the conquest and colonial period. The songs are performed as duets and are accompanied by string instruments like the bandola, guitar, and tiple. The dance represents courtship between men and women, who wear elaborate and colorful costumes during the performance.

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More than One Pageant During the San Pedro Festivals

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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During the San Pedro festivals, several pageants take place. Among them, the following stand out:

National Bambuco Pageant. The most important event of these fairs and festivals in Neiva, gathers candidates from all over the country competing for the best interpretation of the most representative folk dance of the region: Bambuco del Sanjuanero Huilense (a fusion of Bambuco with the regional music genre named Sanjuanero).

Heirs of Tradition Pageant. Created to preserve cultural traditions and folklore of the region across generations, this children's pageant also awards the best interpretation of the regional dance.

Other pageants held during the San Pedro festivals include the Popular Sanjuanero Huilense Pageant, the Departmental Bambuco Pageant, and the pageant to crown Miss Neiva. In addition to the pageants, there are over 20 competitions and gatherings of music and dance showcasing a great cultural and folklore display of both regional and national significance.

The Best Cuisine of the Region During the San Pedro Festivals

Another advantage of attending the San Pedro festivals is the opportunity to taste culinary delights at the various gastronomic displays that occur throughout the celebrations.

Usually, the Gastronomic Fair accompanying these festivals takes place at

Parque Andino Estación del Ferrocarril. There, at different food stalls, you can taste the best regional dishes such as:

● The mistela: A fruit syrup with aguardiente.

● Achiras : Crunchy biscuits made from flour.

● Huilense Barbecue: A pork barbecue marinated with beer and spices cooked in a wood oven.

● Insulsos: A type of natilla or tamal that can be made from corn or rice, depending on the region where it is tried.

A complementary plan to this gastronomic tour during the San Pedro festivals is to visit the nearby craft stalls to purchase native clothing or accessories. An example is the Suaza Hat (a craft with a designation of origin), a replica of a chiva or step bus and ponchos, among others.

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Complementary Plans in the Region During Your Visit to the San Pedro Festivals

The Huila region is renowned for being home to the religious monuments of ancient indigenous cultures that inhabit the Archaeological Park of San Agustín. A sacred place that has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. However, it is also recognized for its strong tourism offering in terms of nature and adventure . Discover the best plans you can undertake before, during, or after the San Pedro festivals.

Discover the Ancestral Route in the La Jagua District

Just 114 kilometers from Neiva, in the municipality of Garzón, lies the district of Jagua. Founded over 400 years ago, it is a destination that enchants visitors with its colonial architecture reflected in over 300 old houses with clay roofs. This is a must-see destination if you attend the San Pedro festivals.

Some points of interest to visit include the House of Teacher and Sculptor Emiro Garzón, the Craftsmen's House, the Historic Center, and the House of the Wise Francisco José de Caldas.

Coffee Route by Bicycle, the Best Plan During the San Pedro Festivals

A plan that combines the best of both worlds: coffee culture and bicycle tours through nature. The total distance is 12 kilometers, starting at a coffee farm with stretching exercises and tasting delicious regional coffee. Along the way, there will be a 4-kilometer climb and 20 minutes of hiking until reaching a waterfall, where you can enjoy hot chocolate with cheese. Finally, the tour ends in Lusitania, where the process of coffee germination and planting will be explained.

Discover the San Pedro festivals and let yourself be embraced by the cultural and culinary offerings of the Huila region.