This year the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion will host the largest country celebration in the history of the Festival’s annual cultural exchange to spotlight the rich musical and cultural heritage of Colombia.
Seventeen Colombian bands have been invited to perform between April 25 and May 5, 2024, across the Festival’s many stages and inside the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion. Salsa legends Grupo Niche and electro-roots stars Bomba Estéreo headline the celebration of Colombian music at the Festival. Among many other distinctive Colombian performers, the Cultural Exchange will feature the traditional chirimia and marimba sounds of the Pacific coast with Rancho Aparte and Agrupacíon Changó. Grammy-nominated Cimarrón will bring their soul-shaking joropo music from Colombia’s eastern plains. Also featured are La Mambanegra and their explosive “breaksalsa” sound from Cali, Los Cumbia Stars’ classic cumbia from of Medellin, and Goyo, lead singer of the revered hiphop band ChoQuibTown, making a special appearance with the local techno drum band ÍFÉ.
Los Cumbia Stars
Pasto Carnival Costume-Maker Dayra Benavides.
Daily parades will fill the Fair Grounds with the joyous spirit of the Colombian carnival, leading dancing crowds to the newly revamped Cultural Exchange Village. There, Fest-goers can listen to live music spilling out of the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion while enjoying delicious Colombian fare or sipping specialty drinks under shaded canopies.
Next to the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavilion, the Cultural Exchange Demonstration Tent will feature eighteen master artisans, bringing their unique creations from throughout Colombia. Among other varied and distinctive products, Fest-goers will find the iconic mochilla (or woven shoulder bag) from the Wayuu weavers of La Guajira, Kamtsä wooden masks from Putumayo, beaded jewelry and basketry from the Amazon, carnival costumes from Pasto, and handmade violins and marimbas from the Colombian Pacific coast.