During the new year, the fiestas season continues in Nosara from January 22 to 27, then in Nicoya from February 4 to 10, transmitting live on channel 7 on February 8. Garza also plans to host fiestas in February, although the exact dates have yet to be defined.
The Nosara Integral Development Association has scheduled a lineup of all the traditional activities, starting on Wednesday, January 22 with a parade leaving from Rancho Tico restaurant toward the fairgrounds, followed by a folkloric concert at 8 p.m. with “Los de la Bajura” (Those from the Lowland).
Bullriding events and dances will be held nightly starting at 7 p.m. from Thursday, January 23 to Monday, January 27. The dance on Thursday will be free with the show group Caldera. Friday’s bullriding will include the rustic style.
Highlights on Saturday, the 25th, include the traditional horse parade (tope) starting at 2 p.m. The parade will initiate in the Los Arenales neighborhood and proceed toward the fairgrounds hall, where there will be dancing music and a concert with Charro Sulivan. An open-air concert will be played by the group Korporacion at 4 p.m., who will perform again later at that evening’s dance scheduled for 8 p.m.
Sunday, the 26th will feature a women’s and men’s quadrangular soccer tournament (fútbol 5) initiating at 10 a.m. as well as a dance conert with Gregory Cabrera and Rina at 4 p.m. The activities will wrap up on Monday, the 27th, with the trotter horse championship at 6 p.m., followed by the final bull riding event and dance.
Nicoya Bullriding Will Be Live on TV
The contract for Nicoya’s fiestas for the next three years (until 2016) has been awarded to the Catholic parish to help fund works that have been declared public and social. Last year’s fiestas supported the construction of the chapel, which can be used for mourning and memorial services for people of all religions, according to Luis Fernando Moraga, secretary of the fiestas commission. Funds raised this year will go toward installing sidewalks around the Catholic temple, as well as a parking lot, illumination and taller bars around the chapel.
On a religious note, on Saturday, January 1, a procession will accompany Saint Blas from Nambi to Nicoya, beginning at 1 p.m., and a holy mass will be held afterward.
Then the festivities will initiate on Tuesday, February 4 with the selection and coronation of the fiestas queen, which will take place in the square in front of the Colonial Church at 6 p.m. One of the judges will be Miss Costa Rica, Fabiana Granados, from Hojancha. Along with the coronation, a singer or musical group will perform.
Bull riding, the constant feature of any fiestas, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5th to Monday, the 10th at the San Blas fairgrounds, with the stands starting to fill at around 5 p.m. Entrance costs for the bull riding events vary between 3000 and 10,000 colones ($6 to 20), depending on the event. However, the Wednesday event is free to the public. Moraga recommends arriving early to get a seat.
On Friday, the 7th, horseback acrobatic groups have been invited to perform, and on Saturday, the 8th, the Verano Toreado crew from Channel 7 will be broadcasting the bull riding event live. Saturday is also the day of the horse parade, departing from the multiuse field of Leonidas Briceño Baltodano school at noon.
On Sunday, February 9, the fiestas will incorporate an athletic touch with the San Blas Recreational Cycling Classic II. Bicyclists wishing to participate can register at Ciclo Cilologia, on the north side of Banco Nacional.
After the Classic, beginning at 3 p.m. the fairgrounds will resound with music during a free concert. Luisga y Los Ajelos, currently the top national group, will heat up the stage. The group’s leader, vocalist Luis Gabriel Loria Yockchen, was born in Nicoya. Then Los Rabanes from Panama, a group whose regeton music fusion and catchy songs are popular throughout Latin America.
In addition, along with mechanical rides, games, food and drinks, there will also be a car show and other exhibitions at the fairgrounds.
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