the history vallenata

The festival was created in 1968 by the governor of Cesar Alfonso López Michelsen thanks to the initiative of composer Rafael Escalona and Consuelo Araújo Noguera cultural promoter. Gradually it became an event of national and international importance, as well as a meeting of political, artistic and cultural class Colombia. From its founding until 2001, when she was appointed Minister of Culture, the festival (and the Foundation, created in 1986) was directed by Consuelo Araújo Noguera. Currently the CEO of the Foundation is his son Rodolfo Molina Araújo.
The main events of the Festival, as the final, were made until 2003 on stage "Francisco the Man" on Alfonso Lopez Square. Since 2004, the Festival happened to be held in the park of the Vallenato Legend "Consuelo Araújo Noguera," built to accommodate the ever growing crowd of onlookers that the place was no longer able to support cultural, musical and folkloric resort. Participants compete on stage "Compai Chipuco" under the bandshell "Cachucha bacana".

The heats of the different categories are held at venues such as the Plaza Alfonso Lopez Coliseum Livestock Show "Pedro Castro Monsalvo" The Vallenata park, the neighborhood square Mayday