Argentina hosts the Sun Festival, the country's third most important cultural event

Argentina's San Juan province held its annual national Sun Festival (Fiesta Nacional del Sol), the third most important cultural event in the country and one of the most important cultural events in Latin America and the world, as reported by Ahora San Juan, a partner of TV BRICS.

The 2023 celebration took place from 21-24 February and ended on 26 February. The festival featured a fair and exhibitions, and more than 600 world-class artists performed on several stages. The festival was a huge success with over 200,000 people not only from Argentina but also from all over the world attending one day.

The first Sun Festival was held in 1972. Since then it has developed from a small provincial event into a major international cultural event.

Each year the festival follows a specific theme that sets its central theme. Sometimes it highlights an aspect of the culture and traditions of a region or country (e.g. "Gifts and Treasures of San Juan", "Argentine wine - the national drink", etc.), sometimes it pays tribute to significant historical figures or events.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the festival did not take place in 2021 and 2022. The return of the festival in 2023 was a joyous occasion for residents and largely determined the choice of slogan - 'Connected' (Conectados).

The best local, national and international artists performed on various stages. Among them were Maria Becerra, Lali, the Mexican band Los Ángeles Azules, the Colombian singer Camilo, and the world-famous Argentinean DJ and producer Bizarrap. The participation of international stars in the Sun Festival has already become a tradition, with previous years seeing Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Calle 13 and Carlos Rivera perform at the festival venues.

A striking episode was the festive parade (Carrusel) of 21 decorated carriages (from each department as well as the provincial government). All the carriages were linked together, thus highlighting the theme of the festival.

The final show was presented on a stage of more than 2,000 square metres and was broadcast on a huge screen with various special effects.

A group of 200 artists and musicians paid tribute to every woman in San Juan, highlighting the struggles of women in today's world.

There was also a touching technology show with more than 400 artists, which aimed to showcase today's youth who value progress and technology, and the connection between generations.

Photo: Ahora San Juan