The New Year starts off with the Festival del Río, a time to hit the beaches along the Chicamocha River and to raft down its canyon. In July is the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, patron of all taxi, bus and truck drivers. Goats dressed in earrings and skirts parade through the town as part of the commemorations to San Bartolomé, Capitanejo’s patron saint. Honor is paid to those Capra denizens with the Festival del Cabrito, the third week of December. The year closes with the Fiestas del Retorno y Matachines, which include the aguinaldo novena leading up to Christmas, young boys dressed in costumes whacking challengers with inflated cows’ bladders and the burning of Old Man Year.