Los Anastacios: The Festival de la Panela

Get to know Los Anastacios through the Festival de la Panela and its distinctive tradition: the focus is on grinding sugarcane and making panela or raspadura. The festival is rooted in Los Anastacios, in the Dolega District of Chiriquí Province; its history dates back to 1980. For travelers, the event brings together culture, food, and a community program centered on a clearly defined theme.

Sugarcane, flavor, and production

The festival celebrates and preserves the traditional activities of grinding sugarcane and making panela or raspadura. Both the production steps and the products made from them are therefore part of the festival’s theme. At the 2016 edition, visitors could sample food and watch farmers demonstrate how sugarcane products are made. Those especially interested in food can get a taste of the event by sampling the products; those more interested in production methods can watch the demonstration. This combines a culinary impression with a look at the work behind the products. The two aspects complement each other but appeal to different interests: tastings invite you to sample the food, while the demonstration focuses on how it is made.

Folklore and the 2016 program

Folklore groups and local queens came together for the 2016 edition. The program also included leisure activities for families and performances by nationally renowned artists. Alongside the sugarcane tradition, the program therefore featured folklore and planned entertainment. The family activities and artists’ performances applied to this edition; they do not indicate that the program is the same every year. If you are traveling with children or want to experience a specific program item, check the announcements for the edition that matches your travel dates.

Putting historical dates in context

A description of tourist resources compiled in 2019 lists April or May as the event period and gives its duration as four days. Separately, dates from April 28 to May 1, 2016, were announced for the 33rd edition. The month and the specific dates come from different historical descriptions and do not constitute a fixed current event calendar. The four days mentioned describe the duration of the festival, not necessarily how long you should plan to stay. If you are choosing Los Anastacios because of the festival, check before traveling whether festival dates have been announced for the dates you want.

The festival as a reason to travel

The link between traditional production and culture is the main point of interest when choosing this destination. Consider whether you are mainly interested in the sugarcane theme or whether a specific program item will be the deciding factor. If you have a particular performance or family activity in mind, the edition matters; if you are generally interested in the tradition, the theme itself is what matters. If you want the festival to determine your travel dates, first confirm which event days are suitable, then focus your search for a holiday rental accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Boqueron, Volcán, Hornito, Pedregal, Los Naranjos, Limones, Remedios, Boca Chica

For the broader travel guide: Chiriquí.