Negros y Blancos Carnival

The festival

The Negros y Blancos de Pasto Carnival, at the foot of the Galeras volcano in southern Andin Colombia, has been part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage since 2009 — a collective game inherited from the Andes, Amazon and Pacific. From January 2 to 7, the Senda del Carnival is holding its meetings: the Carnival of the Children on the 2, the Canto has the Tierra of the Choreographic Collectives on the 3, the humorous arrival of the Familia Castañeda on the 4.

On January 5, Día de Negros: everyone paints their faces in black — "Que vivan los negros!" — in memory of the day of freedom of slaves. On the 6th, Día de Blancos: white talc is powdered for the Desfile Magno, the huge carroza parade, rolling sculptures of paper chewed up to 15 meters, masterpieces of pastusos artisans. On the 7th, the festival is closed with the Festival del Cuy and the peasant culture.