Arts and crafts fairs, religion-based, musical, film and cultural festivals will introduce and get you in Patagonia's rich cultural heritage.

In Cabulco, attend traditional Catholic celebration Noche de San Juan, it is a two day celebration that extends over the night of June 23rd to June 24th.

If you want to get into Patagonia's indigenous traditions, attend Encuentro de Cultores Populares in Futaleufu. Every March popular musicians from Patagonia's communities come together to celebrate their ancestral and mestizo traditions with music, good storytelling and typical food.

If your thing is theater, every January Puerto Montt hosts Festival de Teatro Joven; young theatre groups from all over Chile have presentations at Municipal Theater with avant garde and traditional stage productions. For details about the current year's program, check out the city's website www.puertomonttchile.cl.

Valdivia International Film Festival is one of the most important international event of the region attracting renowned filmmakers. For the last 13 years, every August the city hosts the exhibition of foreign and national as well as parallel activities such as conferences by invited filmmakers and workshops organized by Chilean universities. This year's edition, the festival invited prestigous international script comsultant Eliseo Althunaga and scriptwriter Jorge Duran. For details, check out the festival's website at http://www.valdiff.cl.

Arts and crafts festivals that you shouldn't miss: from July 16th to July 26th in Punta Arenas: Patagonia's Arts and Crafts Fair, the Traditions Fair in Tenaun on February 11th and Summer arts and Crafts Fair in Frutillar.