Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata

Founded in 1968 in Valledupar, capital of Colombia's Cesar department, this festival is the leading event dedicated to vallenato music, recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. It hosts competitions for accordion, caja vallenata and guacharaca players, as well as piqueria (improvised sung duels) and a best-song contest, honoring the genre's four traditional rhythms: paseo, merengue, son and puya. Since 2004 the event has been held at the Parque de la Leyenda Vallenata and draws several hundred thousand visitors each year to celebrate this emblematic music of northern Colombia.