Cali's Fair

The Cali's Fair (Dec. 25 - Jan. 01) is the most important cultural event in Cali, Colombia. It is a celebration of the region's cultural identity, famous for the Salsa marathon, horse riding paradesand dance parties.

Called "La Feria de Cali" (The Fair of Cali). "La Feria de Cali" is the main cultural event in the the Pacific Coast of Colombia, and in the City of Cali which is 2 hours awayfrom the Pacific Coast, and is home to almost 3 million people. The Fair has been celebrated since 1957, from December 25th to December 30th, and it promotes cultural, ethnical, and musical diversity inthe region. In a few occasions the Fair included Vallenato and Merengue groups from Colombian and surrounding Caribbean countries, and samba schools from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Also, the Fair isknown as the "Feria de la Caña" (sugar cane fair) and "Feria de la salsa" (Salsa music fair). People enjoy many activities like an opening cabalgata (parade of horseback riders), tascas, salsa concerts,bullfights (which are under a legal dipute), parades, athletic activities/competitions and cultural exhibitions.

As the city’s people’s conscious grow towards a more animal friendly environment,there has been a lot of controversy for the part of the fair that involves bullfighting. Although, the majority of the city’s people see it as an act of cruelty and abuse towards the animals, the fewthat control and organize the event see it as part of a tradition and culture that should be maintained, resulting in a legal battle between animal rights' groups and the event organizers.

From aninternational stand point Cali is also known as the "Capital de la Salsa" given the city's infatuation with that type of Afro-Caribbean music. In early July there is the Summer Salsa Festival whichlasts for one week. It usually includes concerts by the world's great remaining salsa bands as well as dance shows and "melomano" competitions in which salsa connoisseurs try to out do each other by...