BOGOTA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The traditional Comparsa Parade returned on Sunday to celebrate the 484th anniversary of the founding of the Colombian capital after being suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 25 comparsas, or groups of musicians and dancers, representing various areas of Bogota, paraded through the historic city center.

"This year, the 25 comparsas begin their journey here in the Plaza La Santamaria, the plaza of life, and culminate in the Plaza de Bolivar, with more than 1,000 artists on stage," said Bogota's Secretary of Culture, Recreation, and Sport Catalina Valencia.

The influx of visitors to the parade is contributing to the reactivation of the capital's cultural sector, she said.

The parade is "an effort" to combine cultural activity with entrepreneurship, Bogota's Secretary of Economic Development Alfredo Bateman told Xinhua, noting that more than 1,450 local producers will benefit from the local traditional market.

In addition, four areas in the historic center of the Colombian capital welcomed locals and visitors with theatrical performances that are part of Bogota's annual Ibero-American Theater Festival.

The Comparsa Parade, which could attract up to 300,000 people this year, usually takes place on the first weekend of August, but was postponed this year due to President Gustavo Petro's inauguration in the capital city.