the first week of July has a duration of 5 days and as part of this event also celebrates the anniversary of the department. Among its program highlights the international reign of joropo, competitions such as voice passage, contrapunteo, best artist, best maraquero, best harpist, unpublished voice and unpublished song. The so-called Joropódromo is also held in the streets of Villavicencio where more than 3,000 couples gather to dance the joropo dance, a typical dance of the region. Parks The periodistas Park It was previously named Infantilpark. It is a landmark of the foundation of the city, which occurred around 1842. The park is surrounded by a group of colorful houses from the 19th century, by restaurant and cafes and by trees that lavish shadow and freshness. The Hacha Park The actual name of this central park is Jose Eustacio Rivera, but people in Villavicencio call it Hacha Park because of the monument that presides it. The place pays tribute to the author of la voragie, while the ax refers to the early settlers that use it to open the trails in Meta and changed the land. Los Centauros Plaza It is located in the center of Villavicencio and surrounded by leafy trees, is a pleasant walking area. It takes its name from the sculpture made by the artist Patricia Vilduvieso and Luis Enrique Ballen. The art piece pays a tribute to the plains cowboys who is totally assimilated with his horse. Culture Villavicencio shares the condition of land of immigrants with the region of the Eastern Plains of Colombia; from its foundation to the present, people from the interior of the country and the coasts have sought and found in the city the conditions and the receptivity to establish themselves; At the same time, they have contributed to forge a mestizo culture in which, nevertheless, they struggle to impose a stronger relationship with the region, a bond of identity with the llanera culture. Mamona, coleo, cockfighting, joropo, dance, legends, myth, the renewed and popularized use of the poncho, among others are currently struggling not to disappear before the thrust of urban or modern life. Folklore is made up of the traditional customs of the people. Gastronomy In Villavicencio the typical dishes are in turn representative of the gastronomy of the Eastern Plains. Meat to the llanera (mamona or veal) Veal roasted in wood and marinated only with salt and