Festival Nacional del Porro

The Festival Nacional del Porro has been held in San Pelayo, in the Córdoba department, since 1977. It celebrates porro pelayero (also called porro palitia'o), a wind-band music that emerged in Colombia's Caribbean region in the early 20th century, marked by its clarinet section (the bozá) and driving bass drum. The festival opens with a dawn concert (alborada) in which bands play the local anthem María Varilla, and continues with the traditional parade of water carriers (aguadoras).