As planned, the Parade of a Thousand Polleras (Desfile de las Mil Polleras) kicked off at 1:00 PM this Saturday in the city of Las Tablas, considered one of the most emblematic cultural and folkloric events in Panama. The event featured 105 registered delegations, composed of private companies, banks, state institutions, and family groups, who paraded along the city's main route. The regional director of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP) in the Los Santos province, Daniel Pérez, reported that for this edition, the more than 100 delegations were organized into blocks, which allowed for better order in the procession, as well as a quicker and safer start to the parade. During the event, national musicians and typical music groups, along with hundreds of 'empolleradas' showcasing all the existing variations of the traditional costume in the country, were the great protagonists of a celebration that exalted Panamanian cultural identity.
Public attendance was massive, especially in the afternoon, when thousands of people gathered along the parade route after a morning and midday marked by strong sun. From early hours, there was intense vehicular and human movement, with the presence of national media, authorities, political figures, artists, and visitors from different regions of the country, reflecting a national mobilization that turned Las Tablas into the cultural epicenter of Panama for the weekend. To ensure the safe development of the event, authorities deployed a major security operation, which included police units with advanced technology, security forces, traffic control, as well as medical posts and ambulances strategically located along the route.
It is estimated that the Parade of a Thousand Polleras gathered around 250,000 people, generating a significant economic impact on various sectors. The event boosted domestic tourism, hotel occupancy, the hiring of musicians and artists, the rental of equipment and venues, as well as commerce and food sales, benefiting not only the Azuero region but also the central provinces and nearby areas. The event reaffirms the Parade of a Thousand Polleras as one of the country's main cultural showcases, promoting national traditions and consolidating itself as a high-impact economic and tourism engine for Panama.
