Festival Nacional de la Quenepa

Festival Nacional de la Quenepa
Official name Festival Nacional de la Quenepa
Observed by Ponceños in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Type Local, cultural
Significance The city's official fruit
Celebrations Music, dancing, crafts, food
Observances Yearly
Date Second weekend in August
2014 date 15–17 August
2015 date 14–16 August
Duration 3 days
Frequency annual
Related to Genip fruit

The Festival Nacional de la Quenepa (English: National Genip Fruit Festival) is a cultural celebration that takes place every year in Ponce, Puerto Rico.[1] The festival centers on the genip fruit, the city's official fruit.[2] The celebration lasts three days and takes place over a weekend (Friday through Sunday). It is generally held on the second weekend of August, but occasionally during a weekend in September. It is sponsored by the Ponce Municipal Government.[3]

History

The juicy Quenepa fruit ater which the traditional festival is held

The festival is one of the newest in the Western Hemisphere. It was started in 2008.[4] It takes place at Plaza Las Delicias, the city's central square. The festival takes place during August, but sometimes in September.[5] The event has been held, at least once, at Parque Ecológico Urbano.[6]

Events

The festival includes arts and crafts, food, folkloric music, games, and plenty of farmers market quenepas.[7] It also includes a competition for the most unique quenepa-based dish.[8] All the activities of the festival center on the genip fruit. As such, much of the foods, from cakes to juices, are based genip fruit recipes. Likewise, crafts are made, displayed and sold that are based on the seed of the genip fruit.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Celebra Ponce a su mimada quenepa. Ana María Rolón Romero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 26, Issue 1535. Page 26. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Quenepas – A Taste of Ponce. See Puerto Rico.com Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Government of Puerto Rico. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Resolucion 32; Serie 2009-2010: Para Autorizar a la Administracion Municipal de Ponce a Otorgar Premiaciones en Metalico a los Participantes Ganadores del Concurso de Recetas; Asi com a los Ganadores de un Concurso de Trovadores, Eventos que se Realizaran Como Parte de las Actividaded de lka Segunda Fiesta Nacional de la Quenepa a Celebrarse del 14 al 16 de Agosto de 2009; Y Para Otros Fines. Ponce Municipal Legislature. Government of the Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Celebra Ponce a su mimada quenepa. Ana María Rolón Romero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 26, Issue 1535. Page 26. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Quenepas – A Taste of Ponce. See Puerto Rico.com Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Government of Puerto Rico. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Quenepas – A Taste of Ponce. See Puerto Rico.com Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Government of Puerto Rico. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Quenepas – A Taste of Ponce. See Puerto Rico.com Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Government of Puerto Rico. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  8. ↑ Puerto Rico: When to go: Quenepas Festival. CaribTours. 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Celebra Ponce a su mimada quenepa. Ana María Rolón Romero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 26, Issue 1535. Page 26. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2013.

External links

Coordinates: 18°0′00″N 66°37′00″W / 18.00000°N 66.61667°W