Boquete Flower and Coffee Fair

“La Feria de Las Flores and Boquete Café” The Flower and Coffee Fair in the town of Boquete is a tradition, showing off one of Panamas beautiful town in the highlands in the Chiriqui Province. The region of Boquete has six districts and the town of Boquete is one. I had read The Flower and Coffee Fair is one of the most attractive in Panama. The District of Boquete is known for its production of plants, a variety of flowers including orchids, especially coffee and from January 8 to the 18, thousands upon thousands will be visiting Boquete.

The Feria de Flores y Cafe has been held for 36 years with the very first one held in 1950 under the name First Coffee Festival, to celebrate the commemoration date of the District of Boquete paying tribute to its founders and producers. In the beginning, this festival raised awareness of what Boquete produces such as the coffee plantations, and some of the most beautiful flowers of Panama. Over the years, the importance and interest has grown. People from different the regions around Panama and the world come to visit the town of Boquete. There are fincas (farms) growing orchids, and other flowers, there are large coffee plantations throughout Boquete. Some roast the best coffee in the world out-doing Columbia. One of the best we have had in Boquete is Café Ruiz located up the road from where we live. Their coffee is much better then Starbucks and I used to enjoy a cup of Starbucks back in the U.S. But Café Ruiz’ coffee is truly much better. The Ruiz family provides tours of their coffee plantation “fincas” and production location, the tour ends at their coffee shop where everyone enjoys a good and fresh cup of coffee.

Getting back to the fair, this year the town officials were thinking of possibly cancelling the Feria due to the flood that took place back in November 2008 damaging the Feria grounds tremendously but many citizens came to help by volunteering their time in the restoration of the fair grounds. The fair ground is located along the Rio Caldera, which flows alongside the town starting from the Volcan Baru (an inactive Volcano) connecting with another river the Rio Chiriqui which empties into the ocean.

I have visited the fair three times. Deciding to visit the fair again on my own took place Monday, a Holiday Martyrs Day. I just wanted to get the true essence of the fair. It was another beautiful day the sun was out when a faint mist came down - this as I mentioned before is the “Barareque” it is truly wonderful to see and feel. Although there was, a program times were not listed a shame for those who would want to attend. Music plays at night on the weekend until four in the morning leaving residents who live nearby dreading the fair. Well Lane and I decided to visit the fair at night. Big difference at night compared to daytime it’s a younger crowd due to the music and a huge outdoor covered stage the charge was twenty balboa (dollars) to go in we decided it would not be worth it. Then there are strip of vendor stalls – run by Ecuadorians - on the outside take on different tone at night. Gambling is big in many of the stalls, from bowling made from makeshift carved wooden pins and wooden ball used of course to toss down the pins as in bowling. The floor – wooden board lies on the ground, one very narrow lane, not deep with men wagering a bet. Here is photo of outdoor bowling.

Then there are rings men toss trying make it land on a bottle of booze to win and then the roulette wheel.

Many years ago, the fair was in April it had livestock and more produce was available, coffee was available the coffee beans had already been picked but now that it is in January few produce is shown and you do not see livestock. I do not know the reason for the change.

I took many photos of the different food served, the children running to the storefront in which everything inside was selling for 25 cents, to the Peruvian groups playing their flutes and guitars while singing. There is a stage where children perform and sing to Folkloric dancing. I sat down for a while and thought how beautiful to have this fair on the river, surrounded by these magnificently tall trees, smelling the delicious aromas coming from the makeshift restaurants located thru out the fair, and snacking on thin pieces of crispy Platano (Plantain) cooked on the spot. Yummy! No one is in a hurry no pushing or shoving everyone walking lazily, just happy to be outside enjoying a fair in the small town of Boquete located in the highlands of Panama.