Fiestas

By Sylvan Hardy Get ready for fireworks, cookies, candy, honey bees, and general craziness. Cuenca’s Corpus Christi celebration, commonly known as Septenario or Setenario, kicked off yesterday with a Catholic mass and procession followed by the sales of pastries, culminating in a fireworks show in Parque Calderon. Centered around Parque Calderon, Corpus Christi is the...

As Carnival approaches, police have issued their annual warning to Cuenca’s children and adolescents that they can be arrested if they are caught dousing unsuspecting passers-by with water. A few water balloons are already flying in Cuenca’s historic district even though Carnival weekend doesn’t officially arrive until Feb. 5, says a member of the Citizen...

The fifth edition of Cuenca’s Orquidea Film Festival kicked off yesterday with red carpet treatment for special guests at the University of Cuenca’s Carlos Cueva Tamariz Theater. The scene of a fire two weeks ago, the main auditorium of the theater was undamaged. The festival, which continues through Saturday, November 21, will screen 50 films....

Although Cuenca’s official high temperature on Saturday was 78, it felt much hotter to the thousands who turned out for opening day of the city’s independence holidays. The blazing equatorial sun brought out the Panama hats, umbrellas and water bottles. According to tourism officials, the four-day event will attract 100,000 tourists as well as about...

It will be a weekend of music in Cuenca, marking the beginning of the independence holidays. Concerts are planned for Parque de la Madre tonight and Parque Calderon on Saturday. In addition, smaller concerts are scheduled for the CEMUART crafts center and various neighborhoods around the city. Hotel owners say they expect to fill all...

City officials on Wednesday announced that streets between Calle Larga and Parque Calderon will be closed to vehicular traffic for Cuenca’s independence holidays, from Saturday, October 31 until Tuesday, November 3. “We are retaking the historic center for the people, at least for a few days,” said Montserrat Tello, president of Cuenca’s Historic Areas Council....

As vendor tents are assembled along the Tomebamba River, police are issuing their annual caution about the petty thieves who come to Cuenca along with tourists the city’s independence holidays. “Unfortunately, many thieves come too,” said Jaime Diaz, spokesman for the police. “They know that this is a time when people are celebrating and the...

The celebration of Cuenca’s 195th anniversary of independence from Spain begins next week and officials are expecting 100,000 tourists, filling hotel rooms to capacity. Although November 2 is the official national holiday, activities begin by Thursday, October. 29 and continue through Tuesday, November 3. Cuenca’s holidays are extended by the annual Day of the Dead...

In a Parque Calderon ceremony on Thursday morning, the city officially unveiled the printed agendas for the 2015 Cuenca independence holidays. Holiday activities kick off on Friday, October 29 and conclude on Wednesday, November 4. Among the events celebrating the 195th anniversary of Cuenca’s independence from Spain, are concerts, parades, dance exhibitions, crafts and food...

Next month’s Fifth Orquídea Cinema Festival will be headlined by the Colombian film El Abrazo de la Serpiente (The Embrace of the Serpent), winner of the Cinema Art Award at this year’s Cannes festival. The film, directed by Ciro Guerra, tells the story of first contact between an Amazonian shaman and two scientists who travel...