The Bolivian community in the Washington, DC area is very rich and vibrant. Each year, for over the past two decades, that culture comes alive during the annual Bolivian Festival held at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, VA. The event, organized by the Pro Bolivia Committee, has offered the expression of both traditional and popular Bolivian culture to the greater community at large.

The festival brings together youth groups, their parents, families and friends to "show with pride" the richness and tradition of Bolivian culture through day long dance performances that are an authentic expression of traditional Bolivian roots. 

"When you see the Bolivian festival, you see the traditions and the culture as it is kept in the United States," stated Louisa Meruvia, a Bolivian-American who is CEO/President of Networking Professionals and a very active member in the Bolivian community. "And the reason being, this is family. Families stay together because the dancers are not only the parents but the youth and the small children seeing their parents do it as well. It is mostly to show also that our traditions include the family … include the mother, the father. the grandparents. Everybody is together all of the time."

The festival also offered traditional Bolivian foods featured through several vendors. There was a large variety of authentic Bolivian cuisine, including Saltenas which are very popular meat pies. Also offered were Chicharron, Pique Macho, Charque, Silpancho, Fricase as well as others.

For further information about the Pro Bolivia Committee, please visit: http://www.proboliviausa.org/english.php