Vallenato Legend Festival

The Vallenato Legend Festival takes place every April in Valledupar, in Colombia's Cesar department. Founded in 1968 by governor Alfonso López Michelsen, composer Rafael Escalona and journalist Consuelo Araújo Noguera, it was created to preserve and promote the region's musical and oral traditions. At its heart is a contest bringing together the best accordion, caja and guacharaca players and vallenato composers (paseo, son, merengue, puya), and it draws musicians from across the continent.