Now is the time to start thinking about going to the International Alpaca Festival in Peru.

This international event organized by the International Alpaca Association will take place at Cerro Juli’s Convention Center in Arequipa, and is being organized for the fourth time.
The purpose of this event is to promote the alpaca industry from farming through to high quality garments passing all the links in the production chain.
It also aims to promote tourism in Peru, particularly in the departments of Arequipa, Puno and Cusco.





Here is a summary of the main events.

Opening ceremony
A ceremony to remember with professional Peruvian dance groups, Wasi shows and, to end the night, fireworks, which will light up the city’s sky.

National Alpaca Competition
More than 700 alpacas from the best Peruvian ranches will be present in “Alpaca Fiesta 2007’s National Competition”. For the first time this competition will take place in two different show rings with separate categories for Whites, Colours and five age categories. Our assistants will be spectators to our breeders’ persistence and dedication.

Fashion Show
The fashion show will promote all the different uses for alpaca fibre as well as to promote Arequipa’s architectural and historical places where, previously, the fashion shows took place in beautiful sites such as Santa Catalina Monastery (1997) and Los Claustros de la Compañía (2000).

Conferences
During the Alpaca Fiesta the participants can attend courses related to the alpaca business presented by experts in their fields. We also will have two workshops for Fibre and Final Product run by leading experts from the alpaca industry.

Chaccu
The traditional Inca method of rounding-up vicuñas for shearing which will take place in the community of Tocra. A one-off kind of experience where participants will not just have the chance of being part of an ancient ceremony but experience the Highland Peruvian breeder’s lifestyle.

Horsemanship Show
Considered as unique worldwide for its peculiar movements and graceful walk, the Peruvian Paso horse is an important part of the country’s rich national culture well-known around the world. These horses are synonymous with loyalty and nobility, temperament and arrogance; they are figures of monumental and elegant virtues that have become one of the nation’s symbols. Ridden by our expert “Chalanes” who, using experience and grace, will make the horses dance the Marinera Norteña.

Factory visits
The leading alpaca fibre manufacturing companies will open their factories exclusively for the participants in Alpaca Fiesta 2007 where the latest technology in alpaca fiber processing will be on display.

Alpaca products and accessories exhibition and sale
In Cerro Juli’s Convention Centre, you can enjoy a concentrated collection of handcrafts and industrially-produced products made from the processing of alpaca fibre - a great opportunity to appreciate the multiple uses of this rich product and buy the finest garments and accessories

Adrian Stewart - click here to go to Mulberry Alpacas.
Click here to register for the Mulberry Alpacas Newsletter.
Click here to find out about National Alpaca Farm Day 2007.
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