While yesterday evening saw the inauguration of the Fiestas de Palmares, 52 kilometers northwest of San José, with soccer and fireworks, today is when the down-home fun begins – with a horse parade and rodeo.

Hundreds of horses are set to trot at high noon down Palmares' main road in an event called “El Tope,” expected to draw thousands of spectators.

This year's Tope is dedicated to Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, a known horse lover, who is expected to lead the parade at one of Costa Rica's biggest festivals of the season.

Zelaya's invitation is in line with the aim to “internationalize an event that is more successful every year,” Minor Badilla, one of the organizers of the Palmares Civic Association, told ACAN-EFE news service. If this year's fiesta is like previous ones, more than 1.5 million revelers will partake in the festivities, including the evening spectacles such as the rodeo (tonight), bullfights (tomorrow) and a ranchero festival (Saturday), each of which are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

Up to 250 street cops, 100 transit police officers and 150 Red Cross emergency workers will be working to secure the fairgrounds, but visitors are advised to be cautious of pickpockets, particularly at the more crowded events.

Bars such as Barra Imperial, Derby and Imagine will provide live music by an international cast of names in Latin pop, rock and folk, though Mexico seems to be carrying much of the weight. Mexican acts Molotov, Moderatto, Alicia Villarreal and Aleks Syntek all feature big in the festival program, which runs through Jan. 29.

For further information, check the organization's Web site: http://fiestaspalmares.com