Medellín Flower Fair: A Feast of Colours

Every year, generally at the beginning of August there is celebrated the Medellín Flower Fair, the most emblematic event of ¨The City of Eternal Spring«. Thousands of visitors come to the city to enjoy all the activities around and to experience this unique and magnificent chance to observe so many different types of flowers and also the spectacular colours that make such a fascinating impact on any human retina.
If by any chance, you are lucky enough to be living or visiting Medellín, Antioquia around August any year, you cannot miss these celebrations as you´d have the opportunity to not only fulfil with enjoyment but also get immersed in the «Paisa» [the way people from Medellín region is usually called] culture. There are many activities you can get delighted with depending on your tastes.

However, there are certain ones that I have savoured myself and would highly recommend. The first you should know is that the fair normally starts at the beginning of August and last for 10 days, for instance in the current year [2019] the fair is being held from 2nd to 11th. You should go to the Desfile de Silleteros [Silleteros Parade]. Silleteros is the term used for the farmers who make lovely flower preparations on a silleta (a chair-like appliance for carrying flowers on a person’s back). This parade is very traditional and has been recognised as a cultural heritage of Colombia.

This exhibit is actively awaited by foreign and national tourists who join this captivating custom by intoning “Cuando pasan los silleteros, es Antioquia la que pasa” (When the silleteros go by, it’s Antioquia going by) This, it is also a pageant in which the silletas are of different kinds and compete within 4 categories:

  • Commercial (are sponsored by companies that wish to participate in the parade and are flat, embossed and three-dimensional)
  • Emblematic (there are flat and three-dimensional and are oriented to carry religious, political, environmental, social, educational and everyday life messages)
  • Monumental (for these, inspiration has no limits, is a piece of art full of colours and textures)
  • Traditional (keep designs of the oldest, here the figure does not matter, what is important is the number of flowers distributed throughout the frame to form a multicoloured silhouette.
Classic and Antique Cars Parade
Source: Opción HOY


The silletas are made in Santa Helena a small town located 10 miles away from Medellín in which traditional family farmers have maintained this tradition for years, you could also sit and watch how the silletas are made and get to know about its history.
Another plan on your agenda should be going to the Desfile de Autos Clásicos y Antiguos «Classic and Antique Cars Parade» where you will see lots of classics around the city with it’s family owners driving them while also wearing matched costumes. This is really cool and I guarantee you will enjoy as people are very happy and the environment is all festive. La Exposición de Orquídeas, Pájaros y Flores [The Orchids, Birds and Flowers Exhibition] it is also something you should go for, the Jardín Botánico de Medellín [The Medellín Botanical Garden ] «Joaquín Antonio Uribe Uribe» becomes the headquarters of the most complete and colourful exposition. On the aisles, each of around 80 or more exhibitors presents to the public on average about more than 250 plants full of flowers, among which the orchids are one of the most admired by visitors, apart from the more than 40 singing species of beautiful birds.

Apart from these three plans that I fully recommend, there are others you could join such as El Concierto Inaugural de la Feria de las Flores [The Free Inaugural Concert of the Flower Fair] which takes places in front of El Centro Comercial Obelisco [near Estadio Metro Station] «The Obelisco Shopping Centre«, El Super Concierto de la Feria ¨The Flower Fair Super Concert¨which gathers national and international singers and takes place at Estadio Atanasio Girardot ¨Atanasio Girardot Stadium¨ and Festival Nacional de la Trova ¨Trova National Festival¨ [Trova is where singers compete in duels of improvised verses] among others.

In 10 days there is a lot you can do, many you can appreciate, a bunch of people you can meet and many to be learned.


So, after all this info, are you ready to take your luggage and come to The Medellín Flower Fair? What are you waiting for?




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