Paucartambo Virgin of Carmen Festival
Four days of dance & drink (Jul)
The festival for the Virgin of Carmen turns sleepy little Paucartambo into a massive party for tens of thousands of people from July 15-18 every year. Impressive amounts of beer is consumed and the main plaza is full of spectators waiting to see dances and other traditions.
During the festival, 19 cuadrillas (also called comparsas) dance in a series of ceremonies and celebrations. They represent different aspects of Andean culture and Peruvian history. Each cuadrilla has costumes full of symbolism, like most Andean dances.
Each day of the festival has a series of events, including mass and dancing. Here are the biggest or most important of those events.