We Love a Parade, and the More the Merrier!

      We're in Agrigento for the Almond Blossom Festival, which coincides with the International Folkloric Festival.  Traditional music and dance groups from all over the world participate.  This year there are over twenty countries attending.  There is a published schedule, but this is Sicily, some events happen at different times, other events start and end at different places, and still other published events don't happen at all!  We were fortunate to see several parades and performances, and even an Extravaganza on stage at the beautiful Pirandello Theater, which is just a couple of minutes from our B&B.  Here are some random photos of the folk groups...

          The parade is "interactive", in that spectators just blend into the marching when they can.  These guys try to keep control, without much luck...

     We blended in to the Mexican group for a while, as they were playing La Cucaracha....

        

     Here's a video we recorded following the Mexican band. it's a little over a minute long...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xho7L-NNC0Q&t=0s

     Here is a short video of the Croatia group.  We watched them from an outdoor cafe'.  Remember those cocktails from the previous post...?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQXCURcq31Q

     And what would a parade in Sicily be without dancing and playing the friscalettu....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jze0IJDTIc    

    Many of the Folk Groups were performing in various piazzas around Agrigento.  We found the Korean group in Piazza Cavour, and Chris got a photo with some of the group....

     We found other groups posing for photos....

     And closing out our visit, we attended the big Folkloric Extravaganza at the beautiful Pirandello Theater.  It looks like a mini La Scala....

     What a great time we had in Agrigento.  We were busy every day following the folk groups, did a lot of walking and stair and hill climbing.  The Terrazze di Montelusa was wonderful as always, and the food was some of the best we've had in Sicily.  Bravo Agrigento!

     From your Folky International travelers, Joe and Chris.

     Click on any image to enlarge.