Rana Dorada Festival 2016 Seeking Volunteers

Panama will once again come together to celebrate National Golden Frog Day on August 14th. Currently the festival is looking for volunteers to help out at events. If you are interested write RanaDoradaVolunteers@si.edu

The festivities begins Saturday August 13th with a Family Day in El Valle from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Activities include games for kids, a frog exhibition including the golden frog exhibit, along with food & drinks.

Sunday August 14th spend the day celebrating Panama’s golden frog in the Carrera la Dorada, a race taking place on main street in El Valle form 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Walk or run 5 - 15k and support the conservation of natural land in the community. 

Events taking place in the city include a book fair on Thursday August 18th and Friday August 19th at ATLAPA, Family Day on Sunday August 20th on the Amador Causeway in the Punta Culebra Natural Center from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and an Open House at Gamboa’s Amphibian conservation center on Sunday August 21st from 1:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. 

These celebrations take place each year to pay tribute to Panama’s golden frog, a critically endangered amphibian endemic to Panama. The bright yellow frog, which is actually a toad, has become a symbol of Panama. Look closely and you will find it on lottery tickets, souvenirs, maps and more. 

One of the reasons this amphibian has become popular in Panama is the belief that it brings good luck. 

The best place to learn more about the Panamanian Golden Frog, is at the El Nispero the zoo in El Valle. The golden frog exhibit is open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. 

Read more about the Golden Frog, and the El Nispero Zoo:
-Hope for the Panamanian Golden Frog
-El Nispero Zoo El Valle