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In January, Leiva, like many other towns in the departments of Nariño, Cauca and Putumayo, celebrates the traditional Carnival of Blacks and Whites. The main elements of the carnival whose origin is in Pasto can be found in Leiva, located 185 kilometers from the departmental capital.
The Leiva Carnival (Carnaval de Leiva) formally begins with the children's carnival and with the traditional parade of the Castañeda family, an emblematic tradition of this festival that dates back to the first decades of the 1930s and which represents the arrival of a peasant family with all its extravagant and exaggerated characters.
The great parade of floats captures all eyes thanks to the color and careful elaboration of the structures that travel through the streets of Leiva celebrating its history, traditions and myths. The day is finished with the coronation evening of the carnival queen, another of the central events of the festivities.
In addition to this, the Leiva carnival includes sporting events, concerts and traditional music and dance performances, where residents and visitors enjoy a festive atmosphere. The Black and White Carnival of Leiva is an expression of joy, integration and cultural pride, which unites the population around its roots and festive traditions.
