For the past eighteen years, the Central Pacific town of Orotina has hosted the National Fruit Festival. Locally known as “the city of fruits”, Orotina sits in a fertile region which yields much of the country’s produce. The Orotina Fruit Festival celebrates this agricultural tradition.
The festivities are usually celebrated the third week of March, and in 2008 will be held from March 28th to April 6th. This year’s event brings added excitement, as the town of Orotina is also celebrating its hundred-year anniversary. Thousands of Ticos and tourists will visit Orotina to enjoy the huge open air markets and traditional Costa Rican style fiestas, all with a fruit-inspired theme.
The participating farmers have been carefully selected based on the quality of their fruit as well as their eco-friendly farming techniques. Expect to see traditional favorites like watermelon, cantaloupe, apples, pineapple, papaya and bananas along with more seasonal varieties like guanabanas (soursop), caimitos (star apples), mangoes and maracuya (passion fruit). This year the produce prices will be the lowest in the country. Visitors can enjoy the merriment and buy the country’s best fruit at a bargain.
The festival is also a time of both awareness and education for residents and farmers. Conferences will be held every day on subjects like earth-friendly farming techniques and the importance of fruit in the daily diet. The organizers have made environmental awareness a priority, with a focus on producing the best quality fruit using fewer agro-chemicals.
Like most local fiestas, there will be a combination of music, concerts, food and drinks for those attending to enjoy. The official inauguration is Friday, March 28th, marked by a visit from the country’s president, Dr. Oscar Arias, who will pay tribute to the local farmers. The party begins with the Miss Orotina beauty pageant where ten beautiful girls from all over the province of Alajuela compete for the crown. Beauty pageants have always been considered an important part of the Tico culture.
On Saturday, March 29th the activities continue with a traditional tope, the horse parade through Orotina’s main streets. This “Centennial Tope” has been dedicated to the mayor of San Jose, Don Johny Araya, for his support in the Costa Rican equestrian tradition. Like all topes, this will be a great people-watching event. Local companies will set up stands along the route with music and drinks as spectators dance and watch the parade.
On Friday, April 4th a ranchero song festival will be held where local talents compete to honor the centennial anniversary. Headlining the event is the famous Mexican ranchero star, Eduardo Vargas, known as the “young voice of Mexico”. The following night, the famous Festival of Fruits Carnival will take place. The carnival is a parade of Caribbean drums and dancers, much like the Brazilian carnival. The dancers and drummers form groups called comparsas, and ten of the country’s best-known groups are bringing their rhythm and beat to the streets of Orotina. The celebration of fruits culminates on April 6th with a free public concert from the famous Mecatelio band, followed by a public dance to close the festivities.
The Orotina Fruit Festival is a very colorful event, providing a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the irresistible combination of Costa Rica’s tropical fruit, friendly people and lively fiestas.
|
