As in every July, the community of Benque Viejo del Carmen will be celebrating its 45th Annual Benque Fiesta. The Fiesta is celebrated every year to honor the town’s patroness, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The activities begin this weekend with the “Señorita Flor de la Feria” Pageant. The Benque Fiesta runs from on July 13 to 16, 2012.

This year, “The Señorita Flor de la Feria” Pageant will entertain attendees with the beauty, charm and talent of five of Benque’s beautiful young women. According to Oscar Nabet, coordinator of the pageant, “Last year, Ms Alexis del Valle became the Flor de la Feria. The contenders for the crown are judged by career, cultural and evening attire.”

The Benque Fiesta will officially open with an opening ceremony by the Benque Viejo Town Council on July 13, 2012 and the night explodes with a massive fireworks display at the stroke of midnight. Saturday, July 14, will feature a football match; Belize vs Guatemala; the party continues through the night. Sunday, July 15 will host a “Benque Fiesta Bandfest”. There will be games and entertainment for the entire family. The festival will culminate on Monday, July 16, with a ‘People’s Day’, which will be filled with cultural presentations.

For original articles, see http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/headline-Annual-Benque-Fiesta-kicks-off-in-Belize-this-weekend-11656.html and http://ambergristoday.com/content/stories/2012/july/06/45th-annual-benque-fiesta-kicks-weekend