Top 10 Costa Rica

Jacó will be the setting for nine days of fiesta and cultural activities

A week-long festival of audio-visual art will make its debut on May 24, significantly contributing to the cultural scene in Jacó.

The Primer Festival de Artes Audiovisuales de Garabito intends to draw the nation’s interest with a nine-day-long program involving all kinds of art from sculpture to circus.

Local artists and tourism workers have come together with the Municipalidad de Garabito to put on the show.

The grand opening will consist of a parade of 15 folkloric groups through the Avenida Pastor Díaz, starting at the Best Western Hotel and ending at the municipality building. It will be complete with mascaradas, carnival dancers and cimarronas, and will kick off at 10 a.m.

Once arrived at the municipality there will be a food buffet. During the afternoon there will be circus performances at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and live music by local bands Ze-Cule at 7 p.m. and Native Culture at 8 p.m.

Sunday’s program gives everyone a chance to recover, beginning with more circus performances by Circo Variete at 4 p.m. and Circo Manos Arriba at 6 p.m. A musical evening includes concerts by Afro Latina at 7 p.m. and live music at 8 p.m.

Activities will take place in the lot adjoining the Cruz Roja building, where there will be ongoing shows of handicraft, paintings, photography and sculpture in the area. Frances Hierve Vieule will also be giving a live sculpture demonstration each day.

There will be carnival dancers in the main street every weekday at 5 p.m. with the exception of Wednesday May 28, when there will be a circus show at 6 p.m. instead. A dance show will start at 6 p.m. Monday May 26, while the 27, 28 and 30 have live music. Cinema and animations will be shown at 7 p.m. on May 29 and 30.

The second Saturday, May 31, will be full of activities from 3 p.m. until after 9 p.m., with more music, circus and fireworks. Sunday, June 1, sees the closure of the concert, with a carnival show at 12 p.m. in the Avenida Pastor Díaz.