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Feria de Las Flores
Easily the most important festival in Medellin, La Feria de las Flores combines horse riding, vintage car parades, flower-decorating and copious alcohol consumption.
 | | Girl on horseback during the Cabalgata | It's a week long affair taking place in August during which Medellin typically basks in beautiful weather. On the first weekend the Cabalgata (Horse Parade) is held. A huge stretch of the Medellin's main highway is cordoned off along which hundreds of horses are paraded, although it often seems like the beautifully dressed up paisa girls mounted on the horses are the ones being paraded.That said, most people are too busy getting hammered to ponder the difference. The tipple of choice is a liquor known as aguardiente, an aniseed drink which I personally find repulsive, but is adored by huge numbers of Colombians and foreigners alike. Being the friendly, generous bunch they are, random paisas will often thrust a shot of 'guaro' (as arguardiente is often called) in your direction. Resistance is futile. The festival continues throughout the week with various events such as concerts and shows being held throughout Medellin.  | | Silleta (flower decoration), Feria de las Flores | The climax is the second and final weekend during which country folk known as 'silleteros' (flower-bearers being about the best translation I could come up with) carry huge decorative flower displays (silletas) down from a small town called Santa Elena up in the mountains to Medellin city centre.Even more astonishing than the beautiful decorations is the fact that they weigh an absolute ton and are often carried by elderly men and women. Both this event and La Cabalgata are extremely popular, so if you want to get a good vantage point (especially for the Silleteros parade) it's best to be early.
Return from Feria de Las Flores to Medellin
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