Festival Nacional del Joropo

Founded in 1960 in Villavicencio, capital of Colombia's Meta department, this festival has become the flagship celebration of llanero culture from the eastern plains. It features singing contests and competitions on traditional instruments like the harp, cuatro and maracas, alongside joropo dance contests where couples show off fast, intricate footwork, plus float parades, cavalcades and equestrian displays. It draws several hundred thousand visitors each year around this fast-paced music and dance style typical of the Llanos region.