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Since 1987, the "Vallenato Guitar" Music Festival (Festival de la Música Vallenata en Guitarras) has been held in Agustín Codazzi, a municipality of Cesar located in the heart of the Vallenata area about 60 kilometers from Valledupar, an event founded by the famous Codacense minstrel Armando León Quintero with the aim of equipping guitarists of a space to face each other and measure their skills in the way that the accordion players did in the different musci festivals that were already celebrated at that time.
Currently the festival has wide national and international recognition, being declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 2022, and is considered one of the most important music festivals in the country.
During the festival, trios of guitarists from different parts of the country meet to compete in different categories, performing the four traditional airs of "vallenato": "Paseo", "Merengue", "Son" and "Puya".
These interpretations, full of feeling and technical skill, highlight the versatility of vallenato and the richness of the region's musical tradition.
Currently the festival has children's, youth, amateur and professional categories, as well as the esteemed unpublished song contest that further enriches the festival's repertoire.
In addition to the musical competitions, gastronomic and craft fairs and parades that highlight the culture of the region are held within the framework of the festival.
This event is a space for meeting and celebrating music, which strengthens the cultural identity of Codazzi and promotes the preservation of vallenato guitar music, a legacy that continues alive and vibrant.
