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At the beginning of the year, the municipality of Arenal in the south of Bolívar holds its Festival of Return (Festival del Retorno), to celebrate the return of the Arenal residents in other cities in the country, who have returned to the town since December to spend the holidays with their families.
One of the main events of the festival are the intercolony competitions, small Olympics in which teams from the sand colonies in cities such as Bogotá Medellín, Bucaramanga or Barranquilla compete against each other in different sports events and traditional games.
There is also a gastronomic fair where you can find the town's typical sweets such as sweet empanadas with cheese, Cuban, chicha and milk panelitas. Live music is also an integral part of the festival. At night the inhabitants of the municipality enjoy a real party with local artists and special guests.
The Arenal Return Festival is more than a celebration; It is a space for reunion, joy and the strengthening of local identity. Through this festival, the inhabitants of Arenal celebrate their history, their traditions and community unity, turning the event into a date of great emotional and cultural significance for all Arenal residents.
