Carnivals and Festivals in Colombia

Barranquilla’s Carnival

History and Significance

The Carnaval de Barranquilla is a vibrant explosion of culture, an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event that stands as one of the world’s largest carnivals. It’s a festivity that honors Colombia’s melting pot of Indigenous, African, and European cultures, with roots tracing back to the 19th century.

Main Attractions

Prepare to be dazzled by the flamboyant parades, shimmy alongside colorful folclóricas dance troupes, and get lost in the infectious rhythms of cumbia and mapalé music. Don’t miss the famous La Guacherna night parade, where lights and joy create an unforgettable atmosphere.

Queen of the Carnival

All hail the Queen of the Carnival, chosen for her dance skills and charisma—because in Barranquilla, rhythm is royalty.

• Dates: End of February to march
• Website: Barranquilla’s Carnaval Official Website

Feria de Cali

Salsa Music and Dance

The Feria de Cali is a salsa lover’s nirvana. The festival’s pulse is in its salsa concerts, competitions, and dance schools showcasing dizzying performances that could convince a statue to sway.

Bullfighting and Equestrian Events

While controversial, bullfighting remains a traditional part of the fair, alongside less contentious equestrian events. Marvel at the paso fino horses’ unique, rhythmic trot, a spectacle of equine elegance.

Cultural Shows and Parades

Cultural offerings are plentiful, with artisan markets, beauty pageants, and the iconic Salsódromo parade. Here, salsa isn’t just a dance; it’s the city’s heartbeat.

Website : Mundial de la Salsa

Flower Festival in Medellín

The Silleteros Parade

Highlighting the Flower Festival is the Silleteros Parade, where locals haul elaborate flower arrangements on their backs—a tradition derived from a time before vehicles could navigate the mountainous region.

Orchid, Bird, and Flower Exhibition

Visit the Orchid, Bird, and Flower Exhibition and find yourself whispering sweet nothings to award-winning blooms that might just whisper back if you listen closely.

Concerts and Artistic Events

Concerts and artistic events abound, where the intermingling of colors, scents, and sounds creates a canvas of festivity only Medellín can paint.

• Dates : From 03 to 12 August 2019
• Website : Feria de las Flores

Cartagena International Music Festival

Classical Music Performances

The Cartagena International Music Festival serenades the charming streets with classical melodies. Think of it as Mozart on a Caribbean vacation—sun-kissed and sea-breezed.

Venues and Atmosphere

Performances unfold in the city’s historic venues, from ornate churches to open-air plazas, making each sonata feel like a secret rendezvous between the notes and the city’s stone walls.

Educational Workshops

Educational workshops offer a chance to rub elbows with maestros and argue over the merits of the harpsichord versus the piano—because who doesn’t love a good keyboard quarrel?

Holy Week Celebrations

Popayán Processions

In Popayán, the Holy Week processions are a solemn promenade of religious art and fervor. It’s like the city turns into a live-action museum of sacred history, draped in purple.

Mompox Traditions

Meanwhile, in Mompox, the traditions are steeped in a mystique that’s thick as the river it sits on, with rituals and architectural backdrops that’ll make you feel you’ve time-travelled to the Spanish colonial era.

Religious Significance

The religious significance is tangible, with devotees and onlookers blending into a mural of faith and local tradition—a spiritual detox for the soul.

Dates : From the 14th to the 20th of April 2019

Rock al Parque in Bogotá

Rock and Alternative Music

Rock al Parque is the granddaddy of Latin American rock festivals. Expect a lineup of both grizzled rock veterans and fresh-faced bands ready to electrify the masses.

Lineup and Schedules

Check the lineup and schedules in advance, as navigating this sea of rock requires strategy to catch your favorite acts and avoid mosh-pit whiplash.

Festival Culture

The festival culture here is pure rock ‘n’ roll—think headbanging, air guitars, and an unspoken camaraderie among fellow music lovers.

Amazonas Carnival in Leticia

Indigenous Cultural Exchange

In Leticia, the Amazonas Carnival is an indigenous cultural exchange with a vibe so authentic, even the toucans might join the party.

Amazonian Music and Dance

Delight in Amazonian music and dance that ricochets through the rainforest canopy, while local brews offer a taste of the wild side.

Ecotourism Activities

Ecotourism activities remind you that you’re celebrating in one of the planet’s most precious ecosystems—so party responsibly or the jaguars may judge you.

Wayuu Culture Festival in Uribia – Guajira

Indigenous Heritage and Traditions

Delve into the heart of Wayuu culture in Uribia, a festival pulsating with indigenous traditions. It’s a technicolor tapestry of Wayuu crafts, music, and dance, showcasing a rich cultural heritage.

The Wayuu Games

Experience the Wayuu Games, where locals compete in traditional sports. It’s a blend of strength, skill, and spirited rivalry, all wrapped in cultural significance.

Gastronomy and Crafts

Feast your senses on traditional Wayuu cuisine and marvel at intricate handicrafts. Each piece tells a story of a culture that has thrived in Colombia’s harsh desert.

Carnival of Blacks and Whites in Pasto

Cultural Fusion

This carnival is a whirlwind of history and harmony, symbolizing unity in diversity. Expect to be dazzled by a parade that’s a melting pot of Colombian cultures.

Day of Blacks and Day of Whites

Embrace the playful spirit on the Day of Blacks and Day of Whites, where everyone becomes a canvas for creativity with face paint, costumes, and laughter.

Artistic Displays

Marvel at the artistic floats and performances, a tribute to the ingenuity and artistic talent of Pasto’s people. This carnival isn’t just a party; it’s a living art gallery.

Petronio Alvarez Cali Music Festival

Afro-Colombian Rhythms

Get ready to sway to the soulful beats of Afro-Colombian music. This festival in Cali is a rhythmic journey, celebrating the cultural heritage of the Pacific Coast.

Musical Competitions and Workshops

Dive into musical competitions showcasing marimba masters and vocal virtuosos. Participate in workshops to get a deeper understanding of the music that moves Colombia.

Culinary and Fashion Extravaganza

Don’t miss the mouth-watering Afro-Colombian cuisine and fashion that sashays through the festival, adding an extra layer of sensory delight.

Yipao Festival in Armenia

Coffee Culture and Jeeps

In Armenia, coffee culture takes a backseat to the Yipao Festival, where the humble jeep is the star. Witness a parade of jeeps, loaded in impossibly creative ways.

The Willys Competitions

Cheer on the Willys competitions, where drivers showcase skillful and often gravity-defying feats with their jeeps. It’s a tribute to the vehicle that transformed the coffee landscape.

Vibrant Atmosphere

Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, complete with music, food, and a community spirit that celebrates the heart of Colombia’s coffee region in a uniquely mechanical fashion.

Other Important Events and Carnivals by city

Other events take place depending on the region:

• Armenia: Coffee Festival in October
• Bogota: Al Parque Rock Festival in July / Independence Day on July 20 / Anniversary of the foundation of Bogota on August 6 / Jazz Festival in September.
• Barichara and Bucaramanga: September is the month of festivals (piano, fair, sculpture, cinema…).
• Cali: Week of the Calidiversidad in June / Salsa Fair in December.
• Cartagena: Summer Festival in June (concerts) / Independence Day on November 12th / Jazz Festival in December
• Leticia: Jungle Triathlon in July / Scarecrow Parade in November
• Manizales: Fair in January (election of Miss Café, street shows) / Theatre Festival in October
• Medellin: Tango Festival in June / Festival of Troubadours in September
• San Agustin: Film Festival at the Archaeological Park Auditorium in November
• Uribia: Wayuu Festival 3 days of festivities (May-June) to discover the local gastronomy, dances and crafts.
• Villa de Leyva: Festival of Lights on December 7th.

Events by Month

Calendar of fairs, parties, events, festivals and annual celebrations. Official civic and religious holidays in Colombia.

January

• Negros y Blancos Carnival – Pasto – January 2 to 7, 2016
• Feria de Manizales – Department of Caldas (Manizales) – From January 2 to 10
• Hay Festival – Cartagena de Indias – Between January 28 to 31, 2016
• Carnaval del Diablo – Riosucio – Caldas – From January 2 to January 7
• Bullfighting Fair of Cartagena – Cartagena – Bolivar – From January 2 to 6
• Tourism Fair and National and International Panela Festival – Villeta – Cundinamarca – From January 21 to 25.
• Rice Festival – Aguazul – Casanare – January 20 to 24.

February

• Macarena Bullfighting Fair – Medellín – Antioquia – February 5 to 14.
• Barranquilla Carnival – Barranquilla – Magdalena – February 6 to 9, 2016
• Carnival of Fire – Tumaco – Nariño – February 4 to 9.
• Carnival of Forgiveness – Municipality of Santiago, Alto Putumayo – Month of February
• Feast of the Candelaria – Cartagena – Bolivar – Month of February

March

• International Film Festival of Cartagena – Cartagena – Bolivar – March 2 to 7
• Holy Week in Popayan – Popayan – Cauca – March
• International Orchid Exposition – Medellín – Antioquia – March
• Iberoamerican Theater Festival of Bogota – Bogota – Cundinamarca – March

April

• Book Fair – Bogota – Cundinamarca – April 19 to May 2
• Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata – Valledupar – Cesar – April 26th to 30th.
• Corrido Llanero Festival – Puerto Carreño – Vichada – April 3 to April 6

May

• Wayuu Culture Festival – Uribia – Guajira – 27 – 29 May

June

• Yipao Parade and Contest – Calarcá – Quindío – June 1 fortnight
• Folkloric Festival of Ibagué – Ibague – Tolima – June 22nd to July 4th.
• Folkloric Festival and National Reign of Bambuco – Neiva – Huila – It is held in the middle of June until the first week of July each year.
• International Joropo Tournament of Villavicencio – Villavicencio – Meta – June 28th to July 4th.
• International Joropo Tournament of Villavicencio – Villavicencio – Meta – June 28th to July 4th.
• Mono Núñez Festival – Ginebra – Valle del Cauca – June Festivals in July
• Colombiamoda – Medellín – Antioquia – July 6th to 28th

August

• Feria de las Flores – Medellín – Antioquia – July
• Villa de Leyva – Boyacá August
• Summer Festival – Lago Calima – Valle del Cauca – August Bridge
• Petronio Álvarez Festival – Cali – Valle del Cauca – August – August Bridge
• Harvest Festival – Pereira – Risaralda – August

September

• Bogota Jazz Festival – Bogota – Cundinamarca – September
• Manizales Theater Festival – Manizales – Caldas – September
• San Pacho Festivities – Quibdó – Choco – September
• Festival Cuna de Acordeones – Riohacha – Guajira – September
• Bonita Fair – Bucaramanga – Santander – September

October

• World Coleo Encounter – Villavicencio – Meta – October
• Mompox Jazz Festival – Mompox – Bolivar – October
• San Nicolás International Fair – Cucuta – Norte de Santander – October

November

• Independence of Cartagena and the National Beauty Pageant
  Cartagena – Bolivar – November
• Folkloric and Cultural Festival of Santana Tropo – Boyaca – November
• Festivities in the Month of December – Cali Fair – Cali – Valle del Cauca- December 25
• The Golden Cimarron – Yopal – Casanare

December

• Festival de Las Luces – Villa de Leyva – Boyacá

Conclusion: Planning Your Visit

Calendar of Events

Match your travel dates with the calendar of events. Colombia’s festivities are seasonal marvels not to be missed.

Accommodation and Travel Tips

Book accommodations early, as these events are not exactly a well-kept secret. Remember, a traveler who plans avoids the woes of the last-minute scrambler.

Experiencing Colombian Culture

Dive headfirst into the cultural mosaic that is Colombia. With an open heart and nimble feet, you’ll discover that Colombians don’t just celebrate—they elevate the art of festivity to dizzying heights.

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