7 Things to Expect at Medellin’s Flower Festival

By Sounds and Colours 22 December, 2021

Medellin’s annual Feria de Las Flores (Flower Festival) is one of Colombia’s most important festivals and has become a frequent travel destination for flower tourism. During the first week of August, the festival celebrates Medellin’s cultural identity through flowers and music.

What to Expect at the Medellin’s Flower Festival

This once tiny parade started in 1957, where 40 Colombian merchants traveled from Santa Elena to Medellin with chairs loaded with flowers.

Now, it’s a cultural marvel. If you plan to go to the Medellin Flower Festival, here are 7 things you can expect once you get there.

1. The Orchid is the Queen of the Fair

Columbia is the kingdom of the orchid. With over 15,000 varieties at the Botanical Garden of Medellin, you can learn everything there is to know about orchids. If you can’t make it to the Flower Festival, you can purchase beautiful pink bouquets, including orchids, at Bouqs.com.

2. Walk Around Medellin’s Flower Gardens

The beginning of August is springtime in Cuba, meaning all of the flowers are in bloom across the city. The Botanical Gardens, Barefoot Park, Arvi Park, Botero Park, El Salado Park, and Desires park are all incredible sightseeing locations that truly come alive during the festival.

3. The Flower Parade is the Main Event

Several flower exhibitions feature blooms such as heliconias, roses, begonia, camellias, lilies, sunflowers, bromeliads, tulips, and fuchsias. At the end of the week, you’ll be able to watch the highlight of the festival, the Desfile de Silleteros (Flower Grower’s Parade).

The Flower Grower’s Parade is an event where hundreds of local flower growers dance in the streets with enormous flower displays on their backs. They’ll wear traditional and elaborate outfits that are as beautiful as they are colorful. It’s easily one of the best parts of the festival.

4. Cyclists Like to be Apart of the Show

If you enjoy cycling, Medellin is a bike-friendly city that includes bicycle enthusiasts in the festival. From 3 pm until 8 pm, the Lights Park in downtown Medellin runs an event that allows cyclists to peruse the exhibitors throughout the city in an environmentally friendly and fun way.

5. Amazing Music, Food, and Culture

The Medellin Flower Festival isn’t just about flowers. In fact, there’s a lot to see at any Colombian festival. You’ll be able to listen to music outdoors, attend indoor concerts, sporting events, and cultural activities throughout the week, so you’ll never experience a dull moment.

You couldn’t have a Colombian festival without incredible Latin music. There’s a lot of diversity in the number of music offerings at the Flower Festival. The main event at the Trova Festivals, where singers perform sing-offs against each other, is a unique experience you can join in on.

6. Visiting Santa Elena

The tiny town of Santa Elena is just east of Medellin but is an integral part of the festival. It’s where most of the city’s flower growers live and is typically abuzz with all sorts of activity. If you want to experience Silletero culture first hand, take a detour towards the heart of the festival.

7. Other Unique Experiences During the Flower Festival

Staying in Columbia during the Flower Festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so why not up the ante? If you ever find yourself running out of things to do, you can paraglide over the city, climb El Peñol, walk down Comuna 13 art district, and stay at the Bambú Glamping City Hostel.

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