Medellin, Colombia, is called The City of Eternal Spring. A city lodged in the stunning Aburra Valley, Medellin is now open for travel. We’re also proud to announce that after the halting of the 2020 Medellin flower festival. This July 2021, the festival is back!
Every year, for ten days in July/August, Medellin turns into a magical flower wonderland. Over 4,000 foreign tourists and 10,000 Colombian tourists visit it every year. You won’t want to miss it and in this article, we discuss why.
What is the Medellín Flower Festival?
Colombia is known as a megadiverse country being home to most species of plants and animals found on earth. This means some of the rarest and most beautiful flowers can be found in Colombia.
Medellin, being a city lodged in a valley and having spectacular weather (73 Fahrenheit on average), is no exception to Colombia’s megadiversity. The city is also home to a rich and vibrant culture which is exemplified each year in this festival.
What to Expect at the Medellin Flower Festival
The Medellin Flower Festival carries with it an artsy atmosphere of happiness to go along with the thousands of beautiful flowers. I think you’ll agree it’s one of the best festival events to visit in Colombia.
Be ready to take lots of photos because there are so many unique things for you to see and do while you’re at the Flower Festival:
- Parades
- Traditional food and drinks
- Folklore shows
- Competitions
- Horse shows
- Live music
- Dancing
- Flower displays
- Children’s events
History of the Medellin Flower Festival
The very first Flower Festival in 1957 celebrated Virgin Mary Day and the end of slavery. The festival was then moved from May to August to celebrate Antioquia’s independence.
Silleteros
Silleteros were native slaves. They carried colonizing Spaniards and their goods on their backs in carts called silletas. These were carried through steep Andes mountain paths surrounding Medellin that were impassible for horses.
The first flower parades featured “peasants” carrying silletas made with hundreds of flowers to celebrate freed slaves. Only this time, these locals now carry flowers on their backs instead of people.
Medellin Flower Festival Highlights
Special events happen every day of the Medellin Flower festival. Pick the ones that look most interesting, or go to all of them. The festival website includes more information about the events (but in Spanish).
Medellin VIP’s concierge service can help you make an itinerary to attend the events. Insider insight is especially helpful if you want to find less crowded spaces on a parade route or at a concert. Not to mention, the best food, events you might enjoy, and transportation.
Flower Giants
You can enjoy the Gigantes de Flores every day of the festival. These spectacular statues are in the Plaza Mayor (Caja de Madera) and are made completely from flowers. This year’s giants are a yellow ibélula dragonfly, barranquero bird, armadillo, iguana, and cat.
Night Cultural Park
Parque Cultural Nocturno is a mixture of various types of entertainment. There’s something different going on almost every night in the Parque de los Pies Descalzos:
- August 3: Black Night
- August 4: Music of the World
- 8/5: Comedy Night
- August 7: Son y Bolero
- August 8: Tropical Night
Cabaret Night
Wednesday night, the party moves to Calle de la Buena Mesa for Noche de Cabaret. The title of the event is “Delirium: a Visual and Sound Universe.” It’s a mixture of salsa, circus, and orchestra, which sounds a little strange but is sure to be a blast.
National Trova Festival
What is a trova? A trova is a song that rhymes and expresses personal feelings, often with commentaries about culture and politics. They originated with French jugglers in the Middle Ages who brought their songs to Spain. Eventually making their way to Latin America.
The Festival Nacional de la Trova concerts allow you to experience authentic Colombian music at its best. They feature poetic songs from guitar-playing troubadours along with fun improvisations.
Orchids, Birds, and Flowers
To experience Colombia’s rich biodiversity, you’ll want to head over to Medellin’s incredible Botanical Garden. Here they’re hosting the Orquídeas, Pájaros y Flores exhibit. This is the perfect event to encounter representative samples of Colombia’s amazing natural beauty all in one place.
Parade of Classic and Antique Cars
If you like classic cars, you won’t want to miss the Desfile de Autos Clásicos y Antiguos. The parade starts at El Colombiano and ends at El Instituto del Plástico.
57th Annual Parade of Silleteros
You won’t want to miss the Desfile de Silleteros on the final day of the festival. It’s the main event of the festival. Men and women parade through the street with giant artful silletas on their backs. These silletas are made from a diverse collection of Medellin’s flowers.
You’ll see at least 60 different types of flowers in the peasants’ silletas, including orchids, sunflowers, mums, lilies, gladioli, carnations, agapanthus, pansies, and roses. Some of the silletas are literal works of art, adding to the beauty of the parade.
Silleteritos Children’s Parade
The children’s version of the famous Silleteros parade is one of the most beautiful parts of the flower festival. You’ll want to see this tradition that Medellin residents have participated in from generation to generation.
During Desfile Infantil de Silleteritos, Medellin’s children wear small silletas on their backs to show off the flowers of Medellin.
Sound Zone
The Zona de Suena is a children’s park. However, you don’t have to be a child to enjoy all the games and attractions it has to offer. The whole family can enjoy children’s trova performances, artistic shows, sports, mimes, a circus, and theater performances.
Safety Concerns
If you’re thinking about visiting Medellin in 2021, we’re sure you have some concerns about Covid 19 and personal safety.
Covid-19 Restrictions in Colombia
As of June 6, 2021, Covid restrictions in Colombia have been lifted for travelers from most countries. However, travelers from the USA over age two must provide a negative Covid test taken within three days of travel or medical proof of a Covid recovery within 90 days of travel.
You can find current information related to active Covid cases in Medellin on the city’s website.
Personal Safety
Medellin is safer than it once was (safer even than New Orleans). However, it’s a good idea to travel with others, secure belongings to your person, and stay aware of your surroundings, and watch out for pickpockets.
For an added level of comfort, don’t forget to ask about our VIP concierge services.
Planning Your Trip
You don’t need tickets to attend the gorgeous and artsy Medellin Flower Festival. However, Medellin VIP can help you create a stress-free custom experience that will provide maximum enjoyment during your stay.
The festival begins at the end of July so we recommend you look for accommodations quickly as landlords spike their prices during this time. The same goes for hotels.
Do you want to learn more about the Medellin flower festival? Schedule a phone call with our VIP gurus and let us send you a tentative itinerary in just a few hours!
