The National Folkloric Festival of La Mitra, taking place from March 28 to 29 in the district of La Chorrera, has become not just a festive event, but also a space where traditions come to life. This year, the festival, organized by the Civic, Cultural, and Sports Committee of La Mitra, reaches its thirty-third edition with a schedule of activities that includes traditional games, contests, talks, and tributes. This year, Amaellys Miranda Núñez was elected as the festival's queen and confesses to being passionate about Panamanian folklore and traditions. For Nelly De León, president of this committee, the festival is a representative showcase of the spirit and traditions of the chorrerano people and other regions of the country, as well as a display of Panama's invaluable folkloric wealth. The organization of the thirty-third edition of the National Folkloric Festival of La Mitra implies an investment of over $50,000 this year, De León indicated. Law 263 of December 23, 2021, establishes that the State, through the Ministry of Culture, will annually allocate a sum of $15,000 for the celebration of the folkloric festival. For the coming years, the goal is for the festival to be promoted as a tourist attraction by the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP). For this reason, work is already underway on the presentation of folkloric groups from each province of the country, for which the committee works hand in hand with the Ministry of Culture. The highlight of the event will be the folkloric parade, which will take place on Sunday, March 29, mobilizing thousands of Panamanians from all regions of the country. "Our mission is to rescue, preserve, and disseminate the customs of every corner of the country, ensuring that the legacy of our ancestors remains alive," states De León.
