The Ypacaraí Festival has been held in the city of

Ypacaraí Ypacaraí () is a town in the Central Department of Paraguay on the Lake Ypacarai. On the Paraguayan highway system, it is located between Asunción and Caacupé, near Areguá and San Bernardino. Known as the "City of Folklore" after the Ypaca ...

Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the Argentina–Paraguay border, south and southwest, Brazil to the Brazil–Paraguay border, east and northeast, and Boli ...

, since 1971, between August and September. It is a folklore festival organized with great emphasis on all kinds of cultural manifestations. The purpose is to keep alive the memory of great people who have become icons in diverse artistic disciplines. Above all, it is to promote appreciation of art.

History

The Festival of the Lake, as it is called, started in 1971, the initiative of a group of Ypacaraí citizens who were fond of folklore, with the purpose of celebrating the anniversary of the foundation of the district. The first festival was organized in September. It presented a valid alternative to encourage a love of the things that were authentically national, against the new musical tendencies of foreign origin that had fast acceptance among young people. In the first festival, the organization paid homage to Demetrio Ortiz, author of the Guarania (music genre) that is representative of the city “Recuerdos de Ypacaraí” (Memories of Ypacaraí), who in spite of the hard regimen that ruled the country in those times, could make a presence at the festival. The first festival took place in the club “24 de Mayo”, on a small stage. The very good acceptance of the population towards the event encouraged the producers to go a step further and repeat it the following year for a greater audience and with many more national talents.

Stages of the festival

The festival has come through two stages. In the first stage, the festival was all about maintaining the traditional values of the cultural expressions of the country through the dance, poetry and craftsmanship, reaching its culminating point in the 1980s. The second stage started when the organization decided to assume also a defense of human rights, which they considered were not being respected by the current government of President General Stroessner. This resulted in the festival being prohibited in 1986, by a resolution of the Department of the Interior. However, the people of Ypacaraí did not abandon hope of continuing this activity. They took courage and received the support of the entire country and the festival moved to the property of the parish church, all with police custody. In 1989 with the overthrow of the dictatorial government and the arriving of

democracy Democracy (from , ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitiv ...

, the festival was reborn with much more expectation.

Festival with international presence

Since its first years, the festival had a fluent exchange with other international festivals, similar in their objectives of making known and gives importance to the culture of the country. Delegations from this festival participated in Argentina's festivals of Santa Fe, Córdoba, the Folklore National Festival of Pirané, in

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

in the Folklore Festival of Yacuiba, and also in

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

and

Bolivia Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...

. The delegations from other countries also came to the festival of the Lago Ypacaraí.

International exposure or participation

Since 1973 other international groups joined the festival, they were Los del Suquia, from Argentina, Los Carabajal, Los Cantores del Alba, La Compañía Argentina de Danza,

Teresa Parodi Teresa Adelina Sellarés, best known as Teresa Parodi, (born December 30, 1947) is an Argentine singer and songwriter. She held the inaugural post of Minister of Culture of Argentina from May 6, 2014, to December 9, 2015. She was a deputy to the ...

and many others. From Brazil participated groups such as: Ballet Primitivo del Arte Negro from the state of

Pernambuco Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...

, Xaxado, from

Paraíba Paraíba ( , ; ) is a states of Brazil, state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and it is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Paraíba i ...

. From

Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...

came the group of ballet Peru Negro, Aukamaru,

Roberto Parra Roberto Parra Mateo (born 6 April 1976 in Socuéllamos, Ciudad Real) is a Spanish middle distance runner. He specialized in the 800 and 1500 metres The 1500 metres or 1500-metre run is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. T ...

and many others.

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

was present too with the Mariachi Los Pasajeros, Mariachi Nacional of Mexico among others. Other groups of artists from

Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...

and Bolivia also have participated in the festival. The list would be too long to name all the people. The festival did not stick only to the musical; from it was born the first municipal school of ballet, which allowed the diffusion of this art, and with time, other artistic manifestations also added to this festival.

Awards

In 1976, it was instituted the trophy “Recuerdos de Ypacaraí” (Memories of Ypacaraí), which was granted by a specially selected jury in every edition of the festival, it was national and international. Nowadays it can be said that the Festival of Lago Ypacaraí is the most famous in Paraguay, of all the Latin American Folklore festivals.

Homage people in the festival

The following is a list of people that have been honored in the different editions of the festival, with the passing of time, the organization added more categories such as folkloric dancing and local craftsmanship. In 2006, homage was made to Renée Ferrer in the festival of poetry for the second time. In 2001, the organizing commission decided to include among the list of homage the people the artisans too.

Festival of Lago Ypacaraí

* 1971, Demetrio Ortiz * 1972, Félix de Ypacaraí /

María Cristina Gómez Rabito María Cristina Gómez Rabito de González was a 20th-century harpist whose Paraguayan harp music won national and international recognition.Falleció María Cristina Gómez, ''UltimaHora.com'', http://www.ultimahora.com/fallecio-maria-cristina-go ...

* 1973, Alberto de Luque * 1974, Diosnel Chase * 1975, Luís A. del Paraná * 1976, Teófilo Escobar * 1977,

Agustín Barboza Agustín Pío Barboza (5 May 1913 – 18 December 1998) was a Paraguayan singer and composer. Biography Childhood and youth Barboza was born in Asunción, Paraguay. While still an adolescent in 1929, he went to Buenos Aires to work as a seaman ...

* 1978, Mujer paraguaya compañera del artista * 1979,

Florentín Giménez Florentín Giménez (14 March 1925 – 11 March 2021) was a Paraguayan pianist and composer. Biography Giménez was born in Ybycuí, Paraguarí Department. In his teens, he learned to play the drums and became a member of the Orchestra of Popula ...

* 1980,

Eladio Martínez Eladio Martínez was born in Paraguarí, Paraguay, on May 19, 1912, son of Lorenzo Martínez and Nicolasa Benítez. He belonged to a family of musicians. His father was a bandleader of a group formed entirely by his relatives in Villarrica. Ch ...

* 1981,

Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo (May 14, 1907 – May 5, 1982) was the main reference of the so-called "golden generation" of the Paraguayan popular music and a strict studious of the Paraguayan folk music. Biography He was born in Ybycuí on May 14, 1 ...

* 1982, Félix Fernández * 1983, Darío Gómez Serrato * 1984, Teodoro S. Mongelós * 1985, Músicos de la Epopeya del Chaco * 1986, 1987 y 1988, PROHIBIDO * 1989,

Maneco Galeano Maneco Galeano ( Puerto Pinasco, May 13, 1945 - December 9, 1980), was a Paraguayan musician, songwriter and journalist. Childhood and youth Son of W. Antonio Galeano and Ana Mieres, his real name was Felix, after his grandfather on his father si ...

* 1990,

Augusto Roa Bastos Augusto Roa Bastos (13 June 1917 – 26 April 2005) was a Paraguayan novelist and short story writer. As a teenager he fought in the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia, and he later worked as a journalist, screenwriter and professor. ...

* 1991, Dúo Quintana-Escalante * 1992, Alejandro Cubilla * 1993, Juan Alfonso Ramírez y los Indios * 1994, José Magno Soler * 1995, Zulema de Mirkin * 1996, Vocal Dos * 1997, El pueblo * 1998, Rigoberto Arévalo * 1999, Los hermanos González * 2000,

Juan Cancio Barreto Juan Cancio Barreto is a Paraguayan musician. Beginnings Barreto was born in Asunción, Paraguay on March 27, 1950. Son of Carmen Emategui and Rodolfo Barreto. He began to play the guitar at age 7, when a friend of his father, called Dario Du ...

* 2001,

Efrén Echeverría Efren Echeverria (4 March 1932 – 19 June 2018) was a Paraguayan guitarist, composer and compiler. Early life Echeverria's neighbor, Eusebio Cantero taught him to play his first chords on the guitar when he was nine years old. With Cantero ...

* 2002, Carlos Federico Abente * 2003, Carlos Niz * 2004,

Neneco Norton Elio Ramon Gonzalez (December 8, 1923 – March 9, 2013), better known as Neneco Norton, was a Paraguayan musician, composer and orchestra director. Norton was born in 1923 in Asuncion, Paraguay on December 8, the day of the festival of the Virg ...

* 2005, Ricardo Flecha * 2006, Epifanio Méndez Fleitas * 2007,

Oscar Safuán Oscar Nelson Safuán (21 September 1943 – 28 May 2007) was a Lebanese-Paraguayan composer. He was the creator and developer of the music genre called Avanzada. Career His first musical trio had the name of "Los Hijos del Paraguay" ("The Child ...

Festival of Poetry

* 1990,

Elvio Romero Elvio Romero (1926–2004) was a Paraguayan poet, active in the 1940s and 1950s. Early life Elvio Romero was born in Yegros, Paraguay in 1926. At a young age he became associated with fellow Paraguayan literary figures Hérib Campos Cervera, J ...

* 1991,

María Luisa Artecona de Thompson María Luisa Artecona de Thompson (12 July 1919 – 10 December 2003) was a Paraguayan poet and playwright. She was known for her work for children and in particular her anthology of writing for Paraguayan children. Life Thompson was born in Gua ...

* 1992, Félix de Guarania * 1993, Renée Ferrer de Arréllaga * 1994,

Gladys Carmagnola Gladys Carmagnola (1939–2015) was a Paraguayan poet and teacher. She is one of the country's best known writers; her work is devoted to a wide audience, including works for children and adults. She was born in Guarambaré city Central D ...

* 1995, Luis María Martínez * 1996, Ramiro Domínguez * 1997, José Luis Appleyard * 1998,

Elsa Wiezell Elsa Wiezell (November 19, 1926 – August 23, 2014) was a Paraguayan poetess, Feminism, feminist and teacher. Her work also includes paintings that reside in art galleries and cultural centers of Asunción. She was born in Asunción, Paraguay, ...

* 1999, Oscar Ferreiro * 2000, Teresa Servián de Sosa * 2001, Pedro Encina Ramos * 2002, Ramón Silva * 2003, Mercedes Jané * 2004, Aurelio González Canale * 2005,

Rubén Bareiro Saguier Rubén Bareiro Saguier (January 22, 1930 – March 25, 2014) was a Paraguayan writer, poet and diplomat. Early life Rubén Bareiro Saguier was born and grew up in Villeta, Paraguay. At the age of 11, he learned of the injustice of living in an ...

* 2006, Renée Ferrer de Arréllaga * 2007, Mario Rubén Álvarez

Festival of Theater

* 1982, José Arturo Alsina * 1983, Máxima Lugo * 1984, José L. Melgarejo * 1985,

Josefina Plá María Josefina Teodora Plá Guerra Galvany (9 November 1903 in Isla de Lobos, Canary Islands, Spain – 11 January 1999 in Asunción, Paraguay) was a Spanish-born Paraguayan poet, playwright, journalist, art critic, sculptor, ceramicist, an ...

* 1989,

Alcibiades González Delvalle Alcibiades González Delvalle (born 20 July 1936) is a Paraguayan journalist, playwright, essayist, and novelist. He won the Paraguayan National Prize for Literature in 2013 with his novel ''Un viento negro''. In 2016 he was named a member of th ...

* 1990, Ernesto Báez * 1991, Sin datos precisos * 1992, Rudi Torga * 1993, Tito Chamorro * 1994, Pedro Moliniers * 1995, Sara Giménez * 1996, Erenia López * 1997, María Helena Sachero * 1998, Edith Errecartes * 1999, César Álvarez Blanco y Rafael Rojas Doria (Los Compadres) * 2000, Jesús Pérez * 2001, Victoria Figueredo * 2002, Nizugan * 2003, Mercedes Jané * 2004, Luís D’Oliveira * 2005, Humberto Gulino * 2006, Jorge Ramos * 2007, Compañía Roque Sánchez-Graciela Pastor

Festival of Dancing

* 1990, Celia Ruiz de Domínguez y Gilda Ruiz de Segovia * 1991, María Magdalena Duarte Melgarejo y Emilio Barrientos * 1992, Petronita Vinader * 1993, María Balbina Vera * 1994, Rosa Vera de Barúa y Dora Rabito de Sosa * 1995, Lilian Garicoche * 1996, Elizabeth Vinader * 1997, Mercedes Vera * 1998, Sussy Sacco * 1999, Mirtha Cabañas de Bonzi * 2000, Pamela Fretes * 2001, Cándido Duarte y Gladys Lenguaza * 2002, Reina Cáceres * 2003, Natalia Ramos y Felicita Patiño de Márquez * 2004, Mirta Lenguaza * 2005, Katy Ortega * 2006, Beatriz Frutos * 2007, Zully Vinader

Festival of Craftsmanship

* 2001, Marcial Medina * 2002, Indalecio Chávez y Del Rosario Sanabria * 2003,

Rosa Brítez Rosa Brítez (April 9, 1941 – December 20, 2017) was a Paraguayan potter and ceramist. One of Paraguay's best known potters, Brítez developed a unique style of pottery by using black clay to craft pieces and ceramic figurines. Her work has been ...

* 2004, Federico Giménez * 2005, Benjamín Patiño y Serafín Montanía * 2006, Alejandrino García * 2007, Ramón Ayala Salim

References

Festival del Lago Ypacaraí on Facebook

Festival del Lago Ypacaraí at Bienvenido a Paraguay

External links

Viva Paraguay

Secretaria Nacional de Turismo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ypacarai Festival Festivals in Paraguay Central Department Folk festivals in Paraguay