Subscribe to Colombia Blog
XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Home
Colombia Blog
Essentials Travel to Colombia
Pros and Cons
Flights
Hotels
Visas
Spanish Courses
7 day itinerary
Is Colombia Safe?
Map of Colombia
About Colombia Culture
History
People
Music
Food & Drink
Soccer
Under 20 World Cup
Climate
Christmas
Colombian Girls
Photo Galleries
Colombia Flag
Central Colombia Bogota
Villa de Leyva
Boyaca Towns
Los Llanos
Ibague
The Northwest Medellin
Antioquia Towns
Quibdo
Bahia Solano
The South Cali
Popayan
San Agustin
Neiva
Tatacoa Desert
Ipiales
Buga
Buenaventura
Juanchaco, Ladrilleros
Coffee Region Manizales
Parque Los Nevados
Salento
Armenia
Pereira
Caribbean Coast Cartagena
Barranquilla
Santa Marta
Taganga
Parque Tayrona
Cabo de la Vela
Riohacha
Maicao
Valledupar
Mompox
Eastern Colombia Bucaramanga
Giron
Florida Blanca
Chicamocha
San Gil
Barichara
Guane
Cucuta
Pamplona
About Us Contact Us
About This Site
My Story
Travel Websites
 

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.



Cabalgata girl, Feria de las Flores, Medellin
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
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


New! Comments

Have your say on the site! Leave me a comment in the box below.