The Official Schedule: Celebrate Arequipa’s Anniversary this July & August
This August, Arequipa will celebrate its 475th founding anniversary with a month-long series of festivities. The activities already began this last week with a literary contest known as “A Story for Arequipa”, and will conclude on August 30th with a food fair, arts & crafts show, and talent show. The wide-ranging program includes concerts, parades, talks, theatrical works, sports competitions, festivals, and more.
July 24th, 7pm: Election & Coronation of Miss Arequipa 2015 in the Palacio Metropolitano de Bellas Artes. The winner of the year’s largest beauty pageant will preside over the events of the weeks to come.
July 25th-28th, 10am: Fifth annual Sabores de Arequipa food fair on the explanade of the Palacio Metropolitano de Bellas Artes. Visitors will be treated to Peru’s most renowned regional cuisine. If you’re new to Arequipa, be sure to try the Chupe de Camarón (shrimp chowder), the Adobo (pork chop soup generously flavored with home-fermented chicha beer and plenty of spicy red chili pepper), and the Rocoto Relleno (stuffed red chili pepper). 25 restaurants and traditional eateries (locally known as picanterías) will be participating, offering more than 100 different dishes. Entrance is S/4 Peruvian soles.
August 1st, 9am: Salute to Arequipa in the Plaza de Armas (main square) of Arequipa, which will be decorated in memory of the colonial period. The bells of churches around Arequipa will all ring, there’ll be a gun salute and the singing of the city’s hymn. You’ll also notice pieces around the square as part of a caricature contest among the universities.
August 4th & 5th, 9am-4pm: 14th Annual Sillar Contest & 11th Annual Forged Iron Contest celebrates the skill involved in creating Arequipa’s unique architecture, which is mainly known for the elaborately carved façades of volcanic sillar stone and accented by forged iron touches. Carvers and forgers will gather to show off their works of art in hopes of taking home the prize, which will be awarded on the second day at 4pm.
August 6th & 7th, 7pm: 25th Annual Meeting of the Bands at the Palacio Metropolitano de Bellas Artes
August 8th, 7pm: 25th Annual Meeting of the Bands at the fairgrounds, the Campo Redondo del Barrio San Lázaro
August 12th, 3pm: Local school bands will compete in the Plaza de Armas (main square), playing traditional music such as vals, marineras, and huaynos.
August 14th: Military parade beginning at Av. Independencia will allow the city to flex its muscles as soldiers, horses, tanks and more go on display.
August 14th, 7pm: Serenade to Arequipa at two stages, one in the Palacio Metropolitano de Bellas Artes and one at Av. La Marina. More than ten popular bands and eight orchestras will be taking part.
August 15th, 9am: The famous Corso de la Amistad (Friendship Parade) will cover Av. Lima, Arias Araguez, Av. Mariscal Castilla, Av. Independencia, Calle Víctor Lira & Av. Dolores. One of the city’s largest events each year, this large parade will celebrate local culture and traditions through floats, costumed characters, and endless marching bands and folkloric dance groups. 300 thousand people gather along the 3.5 kilometer-length parade route.
August 16th-19th, 7pm: Festidanza, 
the 33rd annual International Dance Festival, will take place in the Palacio Metropolitano de Bellas Artes. This is one of the most important events to be held as part of the anniversary celebrations. National and international groups take part, transforming the White City with the color and rhythms of the region’s exhuberant folkloric dances.