What Happened
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, the grand cabalgata (horseback procession) of the Feria San José de David will take place in the city of David, Chiriquí. Organizers say more than 35 delegations will participate and about 10,000 horse riders are expected to join the parade. The event will be broadcast on the screens of RPC and Telemetro, bringing the procession to a national television audience.
Background
The cabalgata is part of the Feria San José de David, a public festival held in David that draws local delegations and visitors from the province of Chiriquí and beyond. Traditionally, cabalgatas are a showcase of regional horsemanship, local costumes and community pride, with riders and mounted groups traveling together along planned routes through the city or fairgrounds.
What This Means
With tens of thousands of riders expected to take part, the cabalgata is one of the largest public events connected to the fair and is likely to attract spectators both in person and via television. A live broadcast on RPC and Telemetro will extend the event’s reach to viewers across Panama, raising the profile of David’s fair activities.
Large-scale processions of this size typically have implications for local traffic, public safety planning and fair operations. Local authorities and fair organizers commonly coordinate logistics around route clearance, crowd management and animal safety to ensure the procession runs smoothly, though specific operational details for this year’s cabalgata were not provided in the announcement.
For residents and visitors, the cabalgata offers an opportunity to participate in a visible expression of regional culture and community participation. For businesses and the local economy, the concentration of participants and spectators during fair days can bring increased activity to hotels, restaurants and vendors in David and surrounding areas.