Fiesta del Gran Poder, Bolivia

Samuel Jeffery is a traveller from Canada who speaks four languages and has been travelling the world for about 6 years.  You can check out his blog Nomadic Samuel or check him out on Twitter.

Held annually in June, the Fiesta del Gran Poder is considered the largest street festival in Bolivia, where an astonishing 30,000+ performers, musicians and entertainers take to the streets of La Paz.

The city comes alive as locals, tourists and other spectators watch as performers decked out in elaborate costumes participate in funky parades with diverse music swarming the streets in a series of what seems to be never-ending troupes.

From the marching bands to the sassy senoritas performing provocatively in short skirts to the men wearing costumes that would win first place in a Halloween competition, there is something for everybody who partakes in this massive event.

The otherworldly garbs adorned by the performers pay homage to various cultural and ethnic backgrounds and, at times, demonstrate political overtones.

History

The parade itself is based upon the merging of pre-Colombian traditions and Roman Catholic faith with devotion to the Senor Gran Poder (Jesus of great strength/power). The event initially took place in the late 1930s and has since grown from its humble origins to become a full fledged international spectacle.

The event has received such overwhelming international support that it is currently being considered by UNESCO as a heritage patrimony.

Copious amounts of beer and food are consumed by both spectators and paraders, with bustling street vendors selling everything from local delicacies to cakes, catering for every need while bubble-blowing clowns mosey about entertaining children.

My fiesta

It's a marvel not to be missed, and I was lucky enough to take part in the celebrations because of a bout of food poisoning that rendered me bedridden for several days.

Sometimes, seemingly unfortunate events turn into unique opportunities. I interacted with merry locals and had a never-ending flow of beer poured into my cup without any expectation that I would return the favour. I felt as though I was an exalted guest of distinction and it's one of those situations where I connected with locals in a special way.

It's those magic moments that make travel feel like more than just another day. I know that I'll never forget this outlandish event and I would recommend it highly to anyone who has the opportunity to attend.

Have you ever been lucky enough to attend a big international festival? Tell us about it in the comments section below. Then head to Twitter and Facebook to share your story with the rest of the Gecko's community.

If you've been inspired to see La Paz for yourself, now is the perfect time. Gecko's Get Me Out of Here sale is on until 31 July 2011. Take 15% off all Gecko's trips* departing by 31 December 2011.

View all our trips to South America and see this lavish spectacle for yourself.

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