The famous Mejorana festival

The "Mejorana Festival" in Guararé, Los Santos province, is a celebration of the spirit of all the traditions of Panama. This festival will take place from September 23 to 27 and coincides with the patron saint festivities of "Virgen de Las Mercedes".

The "mejoranera" is the musical instrument from which the festival takes its name. It is a type of guitar, smaller than the Spanish one and usually manufactured in the workshops of the town. It only has four strings.

The first organizers of the festival selected the name "mejoranera" because of its wide use in the music, singing and dancing of the province.

Mejoraneros, drummers, accordionists, artisans, "décimas" (singing poetry) singers and folkloric groups from all parts of the country will take part in this four-day festival. Competitions include one for the written "décima", dedicated to Professor Manuel F. Zarate, creator of the Mejorana Festival, and another is for the sung "décima".

Of all activities during the festival, the Parade of the Carriages is the most spectacular, because all the folkloric groups, tunas (folkloric dancers and musicians), and floats of all the traditional, commercial and governmental intities take part.

To travel to Guararé, take a bus from the Panama Bus Terminal to Las Tablas. There you can find accommodation, but Guararé has few hotels. Make your reservation on time, because during the time of the festival few rooms are available.

The Mejorana festival takes places in Guarare and honors all the traditions of Panama.