Mid-NovemberOn November 11, 1811, Cartagena, Colombia, declared its independence from Spain. The holiday is officially celebrated in Colombia on the Monday closest to November 11. However, festivals and street fairs traditionally take place for days around the actual holiday. There are many parades, including the large and colorful parade through the city of Cartagena, which ends at Plaza Trinidad, where the independence of the city was declared. The culmination of the festivities is the National Beauty Contest, when Miss Colombia is chosen from winners of local beauty pageants around the country.
CONTACTS:
Embassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Pl. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-387-8338; fax: 202-232-8643
www.colombiaemb.org