A Season of Connection: Bioregion Events Bring Community Together
From Culinary Celebrations to Fire Prevention and Global Movements
Riki Cevallos
9/21/20263 min read
The coming weeks offer multiple opportunities to connect with the Vilcabamba community and participate in meaningful action. The Bioregion has organized a series of events that celebrate cultural diversity, protect our territory, and join global movements for regeneration.
Sabor y Origen: A Culinary Journey
On Saturday, September 26th, Vilcabamba pauses to share a plate and a story. The first edition of Sabor y Origen brings together food from different countries, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of this valley. This culinary fair takes place from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at a private house by the Chamba River, featuring dishes from different countries, alongside live music by Carl & Marilyn. Free admission. More info: www.facebook.com/events/1018583177876168 This is a VIlcabamba Bloom Event with the support of the Bioregion.
Community Mingas: Protecting Our Valley
The following day, Sunday, September 27th, the community shifts focus to direct action. Two major mingas will take place in San Pedro de Vilcabamba, bringing together 60 volunteers to construct firebreaks that protect Vilcabamba from forest fires. A second minga follows on Saturday, October 3rd, in Capamaco.
These mingas are spaces for practical work, learning, and encounter. They offer an opportunity to understand the territory better, recognize the importance of prevention, and participate actively in its care. The firebreaks built during these events form part of a larger Community Legacy initiative, coordinated with Germinación Colectiva, that will continue active throughout the year. These workdays demonstrate how collective action creates tangible protection for the valley we call home. Volunteer positions still open. Donations welcome. If you can’t do hard work nor donate, there are many other ways to support this community initiative. More info: www.BioregionAltoCatamayo.org/minga
Origin: Joining a Global Movement
On Saturday, October 17th, Vilcabamba joins 120 other events worldwide for Origin, a global social movement led by dr Zach Bush, uniting communities across every continent to catalyze a cultural shift toward ecological restoration. The event runs from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with a global broadcasting moment from 2:00 to 2:30 PM to the global events.
The Vilcabamba gathering focuses specifically on the vital role of water within the living network of our ecosystem. The Agua Ayni collective will lead a discussion on recharging aquifers and the essential role of ancestral practices in water conservation and care. These practices serve as tangible regenerative actions to prevent fires, landslides, and floods. After conversation and celebration there will be a short pilgrimage to the river for a prayer of gratitude for the healthy rivers in our community.
Origin marks a synchronized moment in an ongoing movement. The gathering ignites continuous regenerative action, community building, and ecological restoration that extends far beyond a single event. More info: www.BioregionAltoCatamayo.org/origin
The Planetary Party: Celebrating Our Bioregion
The season culminates on Sunday, November 8th, with the Bioregional Planetary Festival at the Central Park of Vilcabamba. This comprehensive event, organized by the Cultural Regeneration Committee of the Sovereign Regenerative Bioregion of the Upper Catamayo River Basin with the support of Kinship Earth, brings together all the threads of community work developed over the previous months.
The day begins at 9:00 AM with community spaces including the Bioregion Information Point, local entrepreneur fairs, barter markets, a children's library, wellness zones, and regenerative project showcases. At 11:00 AM, a drum call gathers the community, followed at noon by an opening ceremony with Taita Santiago Quispe and traditional music from the Sikuris de Vilcabamba.
At 1:00 PM, the Local Gastronomy Contest takes center stage, celebrating flavors, ancestral knowledge, and the creativity of our community while recognizing the fundamental contribution of local families and cooks in preserving cultural identity and food sovereignty. The afternoon features storytelling sessions, an Inspiration and Connection Stage showcasing local projects, and at 4:30 PM, the presentation of the Community Legacy showing results from the fire prevention mingas. Mandango Estéreo closes the celebration from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
These events offer concrete ways to participate in the life of our bioregion. Whether through sharing food, building firebreaks, discussing water conservation, or celebrating our collective achievements, each gathering strengthens the bonds that sustain Vilcabamba. We welcome you to join us. To be part, write the organizer’s in the links provided or write me to rikicevallos@gmail.com to put you in contact with the right team.
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