This week marks the celebration of the annexation of the northwest province of Guanacaste to Costa Rica. With this Friday holding the biggest day of celebrations, the people of Guanacaste will dust off their cowboy boots and head out for a traditional Tico celebration at the annual Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya Festival. This year’s festival commemorates the 190th anniversary of when the Partido de Nicoya, today known as Guanacaste, became a part of Costa Rica in 1824.
Prior to 1824, the Party of Nicoya was located within the current borders of Guanacaste and was an independent territory under the civil and administrative jurisdiction of the General Captaincy of Guatemala. When Central America gained independence from Spain in 1821, the Party of Nicoya requested permission to join Costa Rica, due to the country’s close proximity.
In an act of free will, on July 25, 1824, an open council meeting was held, bringing together the residents of Nicoya. The assembly voted to belong to and annex its territory to Costa Rica.
In addition to increasing its territorial size, Costa Rica benefited from the great quantity of traditions and culture that form part of Guanacaste’s folklore, as well as its world-renowned natural beauty. Today, it still remains the land of the Sabaneros and resort communities like Hacienda Pinilla preserve the history of Guanacaste while offering luxury real estate and amenities in this now popular region.
190 Years of Belonging to Costa Rica, Guanacaste Celebrates
All Week Long!
While activities have been occurring all week long, with live music, traditional dancing, horse parades and of course, fireworks, this Friday marks the largest part of this epic celebration in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
A schedule of this weekend’s events are listed below. Start times are listed, but events often last until the party stops!
FRIDAY JULY 25
8:00 a.m:
• Civic ceremony at town hall.
• First Annual “Annexation Route” Bike Race.
10:00 a.m:
• Government council in the park.
1:00 p.m:
• JIUVENES International Folklore Company.
3:00 p.m:
• Annexation Horse Parade (organized by the ASOCNI – Association of Horsemen of Nicoya).
5:00 p.m:
• Symphonic Orchestra Gala Concert – “July 25th. ”(Director: Lic. Jorge Luis Guevara Mora).
6:00 p.m:
• Cimarrona (dancing puppets) Parade Necoc Yahotl Group, Ojoche Dance Company (Nicoya High School), UNA Folklore Group, and a Masquerade, Concert: MALPAÍS and Max Goldenberg.
• Fireworks.
SATURDAY JULY 26
12:00 M:
• Marimbas in the park.
3:00 p.m:
• Marimba concert.
5:00 p.m:
• International culture presentation: JIUVENES International Folklore Company, Mexico Folkloric Group, Nicaragua Folkloric Group, Matambú Folkloric Group, GKumbala Dance Group, PUBLIC DANCE: Vino Tinto.
SUNDAY JULY 27
12:00 M:
• Marimbas in the park.
1:00 P.M:
• Painting for All (New Acropolis).
2:00 p.m:
• The longest parade in Guanacaste. (Gathering of cimarronas).
5:00 p.m:
• Nicoa 37, Soulinaje Group, Concert: Percance Group.
The Events Celebrating Guanacaste are Held All Across Costa Rica
Other areas across Costa Rica will also be hosting events to commemorate the Annexation of Guanacaste:
Nicoya: One of Costa Rica’s oldest settlements, Nicoya serves as the epicenter for Annexation Day celebrations. Performances kick off at 8 a.m. in the town’s main park, and at 10 a.m. President Solís will deliver a speech. The rest of the day is filled with folkloric dance performances, a tope, an orchestra concert and finally a parade at 6 p.m.
Playa Flamingo: The northern Pacific beach town of Playa Flamingo will host the Sabor de Guanacaste Friday with a buffet of typical Guanacaste food as well as dancing, artist workshops and a parade. The festival runs from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday.
San José
Museum of Costa Rican Art: The art museum in western San José’s La Sabana Park will offer a traditional Guanacaste dance performance at 11 a.m.
National Museum: The National Museum in the Plaza de la Democracia, in downtown San José, will feature folkloric music performances from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.