The Parade of a Thousand Pollera Dresses: More than 100 Delegations will Participate this Saturday
Starting Thursday, in Las Tablas, gastronomic and artisanal fairs will be held, while in the district of Parita, in Herrera there will be wines and traditional skirts. Authorities are seeking to protect the authenticity of the pollera in any of its more than 100 variations, all of which are welcome in the parade.
The traditional Parade of a Thousand Pollera Dresses, considered one of the greatest expressions of Panamanian culture and folklore, will be held this Saturday the 17th in the city of Las Tablas, with the confirmed participation of more than 100 delegations from different parts of the country. According to Daniel Pérez, regional director of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) in the province of Los Santos, the parade is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm sharp, and an attendance of around 200,000 people, including nationals and tourists, is expected. Pérez reported that for this edition, specific regulations have been established with the aim of safeguarding the correct use of the pollera, a symbol of Panamanian cultural heritage.
Among the main provisions, people marching in the delegations are prohibited from wearing stylized dresses and skirts made with painted or printed fabrics, measures that seek to protect the authenticity of the skirt in any of its more than 100 variations, all of which are welcome within the parade. Pérez also explained that, in the case of the gentlemen who participate, the use of sneakers or caps will not be allowed, rules that do not apply to people who are part of the delegations in support, logistics or work roles, and who do not participate directly in the parade. As part of the cultural agenda, Pérez highlighted that additional events have been organized around the Parade of a Thousand Pollera Dresses.
Starting Thursday, in the city of Las Tablas, gastronomic and artisanal fairs will be held, while in the district of Parita, in Herrera, a wine and skirt festival will take place, with the aim of highlighting the culture and gastronomy of the region. Among the main provisions, people marching in the delegations are prohibited from wearing stylized dresses and skirts made with painted or printed fabrics, measures that seek to protect the authenticity of the skirt in any of its more than 100 variations, all of which are welcome within the parade. Pérez also explained that, in the case of the gentlemen who participate, the use of sneakers or caps will not be allowed, rules that do not apply to people who are part of the delegations in support, logistics or work roles, and who do not participate directly in the parade.
As part of the cultural agenda, Pérez highlighted that additional events have been organized around the Parade of a Thousand Pollera Dresses. Starting Thursday, in the city of Las Tablas, gastronomic and artisanal fairs will be held, while in the district of Parita, in Herrera, a wine and skirt festival will take place, with the aim of highlighting the culture and gastronomy of the region. Meanwhile, in the town of Los Santos, interactive carpets and Corpus Christi dances will be presented, allowing visitors who have not witnessed this traditional cultural event to enjoy it during the prelude to the parade on Friday.
Mud-making gatherings will also take place in communities in Pedasí and in the Los Ángeles de Los Santos area, as part of the preliminary activities organized by entrepreneurs and tour operators. In economic terms, the regional director of the ATP noted that the event has an approximate government investment of $150,000, made through the Tourism Authority and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, but that it generates an estimated economic impact of more than $40 million for the Azuero region.
Hotel occupancy in the province of Los Santos is at 100%, as is the case in the province of Herrera, while neighboring provinces such as Veraguas and Coclé report high levels of occupancy. In addition, family homes and beach houses are available for rent to visitors and delegations. Pérez emphasized that this economic activity benefits not only hotels and restaurants, but also entrepreneurs, artisans, makeup artists, musicians, people dedicated to the rental, washing and ironing of polleras (traditional skirts), as well as retail and wholesale trade, making the Parade of a Thousand Polleras a clear engine of economic and cultural reactivation for the Azuero region.
