The National Artisan Fair of Barranquitas takes place July 17 – 20 2009. This annual event brings together local artsians from around the island of Puerto Rico. Up to 200 local craftsmen and artisans will take part in this years festival with craft workshops for children and adults taking place through out the event.
The National Artisan Fair of Barranquitas dates back to 1959 when the first artisan fair took place to mark the centenary of the birth of local barranquiteno hero Don Luis Munoz Rivera. At that time there was only a single kiosks where local craftsman displayed their creations. The following years fair saw even more artisans taking part and in 1961 the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture announced the first National Fair of Handicrafts in Barranquitas. Since then the fair has grown in popularity, not only with local artisans, but in the variety of cultural activities that occur during the event.
As usual here in Puerto Rico along with the local crafts, there will be music and food available each day.
The current schedule of events is:
Friday 17 July
7:00 pm – Presentation of the book ‘Artes Populares de la comunidad’ de Ramon Lopez
7:15 pm – Music from Huellas de Luis Daniel – Ninos Trovadorese
8:15 pm – Violin Orchestra
Saturday 18 July
9:00 am – Artisan Fair Opens
12:30 pm – Children’s activities including Mario Donate and his puppets
2:00 pm – Cantoral duo
4:00 pm – Dedication
4:30 pm – TrÃo Los Sentimentales
6:00 pm – Music from ATABAL
8:00 pm – Music from Fernando Sanabria
Sunday 19 July
9:00 am – Artisan Fair Opens
10:00 am – Certamen de Tallas (woodcarving)
12:00 pm – Concurso de Trovadores (Folk Singing Contest)
2:00 pm – Clown REMI from the Central Cultural Theater
4:30 pm – Municipal Band of Barranquitas
6:00 pm Рmusic from the Sexteto Borinqu̩n de Mario Hernandez
8:00 pm – Andy Montanez y his orchestra
Monday 20 July
8:00 am – Artisan Fair Opens
9:00 am – Mass at San Antonio de Padua
10:00 am – Official evenst to mark the birtday of Don Luis Munoz Rivera
12:00 pm – Puerto Rico State band
2:00 pm – Tambores del Sarao (drums)
3:00 pm – Grupo Folkl?rico Cuerda J?bara ? Prof. Pedro Ortiz
5:00 pm – Music from Esencia
6:30 pm – Music from K’Pa Prieto
Barranquitas is located in the central region of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and west of Caguas. Google maps indicates that it should take around 1hr and 10mins to get to Barranquitas from San Juan. I would allow extra time due to traffic and driving part way on smaller non highway roads.
What: National Artisan Fair of Barranquitas
When: Friday July 17 – Monday July 20, 2009
Where: Barranquitas
Map It
Resource: www.feriadeartesanias.org
