Feria del Sol (Mérida)

The Feria del Sol ( Sun Festival ), also known as Carnaval Taurino de América ( Stierkarneva America ), is a cultural festival which takes place annually in Mérida in Venezuela.

Activities

The festival takes place at the same time as the carnival during the month of February. On the program are in addition to the cattle market, numerous cultural and commercial exhibitions as well as concerts, parades, athletic activities and the choice of Reina del Sol, the sun queen.

History

After building a bullring could take place around the bullfights and festivities and exhibitions. It was initially envisaged that the exhibitions in early December should take place around the celebrations of the Day of the Immaculate Conception. The first fair was held over two days on 9 and 10 December. The bullfights inter alia on Manuel Benítez ( " El Cordobés "). The first day of struggle has been canceled and rescheduled to the next day, so for the first time in Venezuela took place two bullfights at the same place and on the same day by a heavy rain.

Because of the constant rain in December it was decided to celebrate the festival with carnival. Under the name " Feria del Sol " it was then in 1969 celebrated on the 15th, 16th and February 17th with three bullfights. From then on, the festival grew increasingly becoming one of the most important Venezuelan and the bullfighting world.