Medellín Flower Festival: Dates and Guide

What is the Medellín Flower Festival?

The Medellín Flower Festival (Feria de las Flores) is the city's biggest celebration. It is organised by the city's Department of Civic Culture, and most events are free. The first edition was held in May 1957; since 1968 it has taken place in August, the month in which Antioquia marks its independence.

For about ten days the city fills with parades, concerts, neighbourhood stages, trova (improvised folk verse) and flower and orchid shows. At its heart are the silleteros: farmers from the rural district of Santa Elena who carry wooden frames, called silletas, covered in flowers on their backs.

The tradition is officially protected: Law 838 of 2003 declared the silleteros of Santa Elena and the Flower Festival part of Colombia's national cultural heritage, and silletero culture is recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.

The 2026 edition ran from Friday 31 July to Sunday 9 August, with more than 200 events, over half of them free. Dates for 2027 have not been announced yet; the city publishes them on its official channels a few months ahead.

The Silleteros Parade and other parades

The Silleteros Parade (Desfile de Silleteros) is the main event and closes the festival. The 69th parade took place on Sunday 9 August 2026, with more than 530 silleteros and silletas made from over 80 flower varieties. Silletas compete in four categories: traditional, emblematic, monumental and commercial.

Other parades in the 2026 programme:

• Chivas and Flowers Parade (Saturday 1 August): 2.3 km from Puente de Guayaquil to Avenida del Ferrocarril, with more than 1,200 performers, dance troupes and music groups.
• Avenida Primavera (Sunday 2 August): concerts and music along the city's main roads.
• Classic and Vintage Car Parade (Friday 7 August): more than 200 cars from the early and mid 20th century.

For the Silleteros Parade, grandstand seats are allocated by a free draw on the festival's official website; everyone else watches from the pavement along the route. The route is announced each year, so check it before you go and arrive early for a good spot.

Airport bus with COMBUSES

Coming for the festival or the Christmas lights? The COMBUSES airport bus runs from José María Córdova Airport to San Diego or Hotel Nutibara every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Your ticket is valid for 30 days, with no fixed departure time.

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Tips for enjoying the festival

• Book accommodation early. It's one of the busiest weeks of the year in Medellín.
• Use the metro. During the 2026 festival the Metro de Medellín extended its operating hours; check the official announcements each year.
• Visit Santa Elena. The silletero families live and grow their flowers in this rural district in the mountains east of the city. Several silletero farms open to visitors all year round, with talks, garden walks and silleta-making workshops; book ahead.
• Bring a light jacket, sun protection and rain gear. Parades last several hours outdoors.
• Watch your belongings. In crowds, carry the minimum and keep your phone out of sight.
• Paid concerts. Most of the festival is free, but some big shows, such as the Súper Concierto at Atanasio Girardot stadium, sell tickets separately.

If your flight leaves on the day of the Silleteros Parade, expect road closures and allow extra time to reach the airport.

Medellín's Christmas lights (alumbrados)

After the Flower Festival, the other season that draws visitors is the alumbrados, Medellín's Christmas lights. The city and the utility company EPM install light figures in parks, along the river and at points across Medellín, and towns around the Aburrá Valley and Antioquia set up their own displays.

For reference, in the 2025 season the lights were switched on on 28 November and stayed on until 12 January 2026, at 61 locations around the city. One of the main routes was Parques del Río, with costumed performers and Christmas characters.

For 2026, installation has started with a theme celebrating cultures and regions of the world, but the switch-on date and the full route had not been announced as of early November. Check the official channels of the Alcaldía de Medellín and EPM.

Tips: go on a weeknight or early in the evening to avoid the biggest crowds, use the metro or public transport, as roads get congested, and try natilla and buñuelos, Antioquia's traditional December treats.

Other festivals in Medellín through the year

Outside August and December, Medellín has a cultural calendar worth checking if you plan ahead:

• International Tango Festival (June): Medellín has a special bond with tango because Carlos Gardel died in the city in 1935. In 2026 it held its 20th edition from 8 to 14 June, with around 40 free activities.
• Medellín International Poetry Festival (July): readings by poets from many countries in parks, auditoriums and neighbourhoods. The 36th edition ran from 4 to 11 July 2026.
• Colombiamoda (July): a fashion trade fair held every year at the Plaza Mayor convention centre. In 2026 it ran from 25 to 31 July.

July and August bring three of these events plus the Flower Festival, so the city is lively but hotels and flights are in high demand. If you'd rather have a quieter Medellín, travel outside those weeks.

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Photo: Cuando pasa un silletero, es medellin el que pasa.jpg — Mariaalejandragallego (CC0)