international products of all types - clothes, electrical appliances, candies, trinkets, and different articles for the home - occupies a great part of La Pampilla. In this sector, people who want to set up a stall must pay the Municipality for a permit. Artistic presentations and activities Every year there are performances by many national and international artists, such as folk and pop singers, as well as humorous shows. These are presented on the monumental stage, located in a moat in the western sector of La Pampilla, although previously there was a stage in the shape of a pirate galleon, popularly known as "El Galeón". Also, every year different activities take place, such as musical contests and traditional sporting events. These, in conjunction with the artistic presentations on stage, make up the festival's variety program. Timeline 1960s In the Coquimbo Municipal Stadium in 1963 the First Chilean Songwriting Contest and the First Contest of Folkloric Ensembles were held, events broadcast by of Coquimbo and Radio Balmaceda of Santiago. Organization was handled by the Municipality of Coquimbo, the Lions Club, the , and Radio Riquelme. The master of ceremonies for these competitions was the announcer Renato Deformes, together with César Araya Torres and Alberto Martínez. In 1964 the previous year's musical contests were re-performed. On this occasion, the station that broadcast the event for the rest of Chile was Radio Minería. The official announcer was , who was also the host of the Viña del Mar International Song Festival. 1970s In 1973 the festival was not held because the country was under a state of siege after the 11 September coup d'état that had overthrown President Salvador Allende. 1980s Among the outstanding artistic presentations of 1988 were those of (comprising Gloria Benavides, Marilú Cuevas, Eduardo Ravani, and ) and Álvaro Scaramelli. , Largo Camino, and the Carén Folk Ensemble performed at the Lions Club tent. In 1989, the first Pampilla headed by the mayor Jorge Auger, the general coordinator was Víctor Muñoz. On this occasion the following performers were presented: Lorena, Jorge Navarrete, Miguelo, Soledad Guerrero, Los 24 Ancianos, Los Huasos del Maule, and El Grupo Almendral. In addition, the Coro Laura Reyes participated in the inauguration of the festival. 1990s In 1990 the main attraction of the festival was the performance of humorist Jorge Navarrete. Among the presentations that were made in 1991 were: Halcones of the Chilean Air Force,