Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city, has released the program for its annual Flower Festival, one of the city’s most important cultural festivals of the year.
The festival will run between August 1 and August 10, and is widely regarded as the celebration most emblematic of the city of Medellin, located in the department of Antioquia.
Beginning in the 1950s as a way to inspire and promote the large number of flower producers in the region, the 10-day festival has grown to include a cast of thousands of merchants, performers, musicians, horse-riders and observers who flock to the city to partake in the colorful festivities.
The continual central event of the festival is the “Flower Parade,” dating back to 1957, where millions of flowers arrangements in special seats known as “silletas” are carried by flower growers, each conveying a sense of the land, values and history where these artists live and work.
Other highlighted events during the festival include a parade of vintage cars and several outdoor concerts.
Program
Guided tours
The city hall is organizing a number of tours aimed at knowing and understanding Medellin. For this purpose the government organized several conceptual guided tours in the central 10th and the northern 4th district.
Parade Routes
During the festival, several parades will be held of which the most famous is the iconic “silleteros” parade.
Sources
- Festival schedule (Medellin Mayor’s Office)