2011 'Pichileminian Week' ends

February 21, 2011 The 2011 Pichileminian Week (Semana Pichilemina 2011) concluded on Saturday night, after a performance of Chilean humourist Juan Carlos "Palta" Meléndez, and singer Douglas, in the city's Arturo Prat Square.

The Pichileminian Week celebrations began on February 14, on, with a performance of singer , along with other local artists. "My public still remembers with nostalgia my days as Rojo [a Chilean talent show] participant, [it] will be a huge opportunity to reunite myself with them," Martínez told Jorge Vargas González during an interview for Radio Somos Pichilemu. During that night, the participants for Miss Playa Pichilemu 2011 were presented to the public.

Celebrations on Tuesday were mostly based in. On Wednesday, the "Noche Ranchera" (" Night") took place: the Chilean cumbia band Los Kuatreros del Sur, along with Pichileminian musicians such as Gabriel y Los Bravos de la Costa, performed until very late in the night.

The "Gran Gala Folclórica" ("Grand Folkloric Gala") was made on Thursday, with folkloric bands such as Orimapu, Sentimiento Chileno, Voces Colchagüinas, and Las Capitalinas performing through the night.

Friday night saw the final stage of Miss Playa Pichilemu 2011, and the performance of Uruguayan New Wave band Los Iracundos, whose hit songs of the 1960s Puerto Montt, and Es La Lluvia Que Cae are still remembered among fans.

The winner of Miss Playa Pichilemu 2011 was the local student Natalie Pavez Cerda, aged 15. Camila Herrera Fernández, 17, ended up in second place, and Valentina Donoso Farías, 17, in third.

"This has been the best weekend I have seen for ages," said Hernán Garrido, former councillor of Pichilemu in Radio Entre Olas. "I am so happy that the tourism has [been] reactivated in our loved commune," he added. It has been estimated that Pichilemu was visited by around 100,000 tourists only this week, according to Radio Entre Olas reports.

In previous years, the had invited artists such as  (2010), and  (2009), reaching enourmous assistance to each of the performances.