Zapote Fair is A Go No Matter What San José Decides on Monday
On Monday we will learn if there will be a fair in Zapote this year, as a San José Municipality commission for the annual fair will be making their final vote. However, the municipality of Curridabat says not to worry, the Zapote fair will go as scheduled, though there will be some physical changes to the location.

You see, the annual fair that begins on Christmas Day known as "Fiestas de Zapote" is not all in San José, rather, it lies on lands of both municipalities of San José and Curridabat.

So, as the commissioners of San José debate the fair, the commissioners of the municipality of Curridabat are moving full speed ahead with their plans and this week will be giving out the concessions for the amusement, food and even the installation of a bull ring.

Curridabat officials hope that San José will participate, however, it is ready to hold the entire Zapote fair within their jurisdiction, which will mean a shift of some of the rides and food stands that are part of the annual tradition.

"We already have the plans, the booths for the police security are already built and the dates for the awarding of concessions already published", said Lna Barrantes, head of the Comisión de Festejos de Curridabat.

Barrantes added that her commission had been working on the plans for the last three months and severla major corporations have given their financial support in ensuring that festivities occur.

Barrantes said that the Municipalidad de Curridabat has already given the green light for the fair, while the Concejo de San José is adopting a policy of stopping the annual fair due to health and security reasons.

Some 50.000 or more people come to the annual "Zapote" fair that last 10 days between Christmas and the first days of the new year. Health officials say that that is too many people in such a small area and that the control on foods prepared is difficult and lacks an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

Police officials say that the large number of people in such a small area - the Zapote fair is located on lands in front of the Registro Nacional, next to the Pricesmart empty lot - makes it difficult to provide security, especially at night when a large number of people are there to consume alcohol.

The Zapote fair has become a tradition and the first of such fairs that are held around the country in the coming months. The most notable are the "Palmares Fair" and the "Punaternas Caranaval".