Things to do
Feria de las Flores
A guide to Medellín's flower festival
In short
The Feria de las Flores is Medellín's biggest festival: about 10 days of parades, concerts and flower shows in early August, ending with the Desfile de Silleteros, when more than 500 flower growers from Santa Elena carry huge floral arrangements on their backs through the city. Most events are free, the 2026 edition drew around 5 million attendances, and it's the most festive time of year to visit.
In this guide (5 parts)
What the Feria de las Flores is
Medellín calls itself the city of eternal spring, and once a year it proves it. The Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival) fills the city with flowers, music, parades and parties for about 10 days in early August. It started on May 1, 1957, with a flower show at the Metropolitan Cathedral and a parade of 40 flower growers from Santa Elena. The next year it moved to August to coincide with Antioquia's independence celebrations, and it's been held then ever since.
The festival is woven into local identity. The Silleteros Parade and the Feria were declared part of Colombia's national cultural heritage in 2003, and the silletero tradition was added to the national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2015.
The Desfile de Silleteros
The parade that closes the festival is the one you shouldn't miss. Silleteros are farming families from Santa Elena, a rural district in the mountains east of Medellín, who historically carried goods, and later flowers, down to the city's markets on wooden frames strapped to their backs, called silletas. Today they carry spectacular floral arrangements, some weighing tens of kilos, along a parade route of about 2.8 kilometers.
In 2026, the 69th edition had 545 participants, from children to veterans in the Pioneros category, and drew an estimated 1.4 million spectators. The silletas compete in several categories:
- Tradicional: about 90 by 80 centimeters, with more than 20 varieties of flowers, like the silletas farmers used to carry to market.
- Emblemática: a flat design carrying a message about the environment, peace or civic life.
- Monumental: the giants, around 2 by 2 meters, usually crowned with gladioli.
- Artística: free themes in relief, sometimes with moving parts.
- Junior and Infantil: for young silleteros from Santa Elena.
- Comercial: sponsored by companies, these don't compete for the top prize.
There are 45 grandstands along the route plus space at the sides. Grandstand seats are sold in advance and go quickly; standing room along the edges is free but fills up early. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat, as you'll be in the sun for hours.
Other events worth seeing
Around 120 free events made up about 80% of the 2026 public program. Highlights usually include:
- Desfile de Autos Clásicos y Antiguos, a parade of more than 200 classic and antique cars.
- Chivas y Flores, a parade of decorated chivas, the colorful rural buses of Colombia.
- Festival Nacional de la Trova, a contest of improvised, often very funny, sung verses. In 2026 the final was part of the Parque Cultural Nocturno at Plaza Gardel, beside the Olaya Herrera airport.
- Plazas de Flores, family-friendly hubs with food, music and crafts. In 2026 they were at Parques del Río, Parque de los Deseos and Ciudad del Río.
- Feria a Ritmo de Bicicleta, an 11-kilometer group bike ride through the city.
- Orchids, Birds and Flowers, the orchid show held at the Jardín Botánico's Orquideorama.
- Tablados, free music and dance stages in neighborhoods across the city. There were 21 in 2026.
- Concerts, including a big opening concert and a family zone at Parque Norte, close to Parque Explora.
The city publishes the full program a few weeks before the festival on the Alcaldía de Medellín's website.
Visit the silleteros in Santa Elena
Before the parade, many visitors head up to Santa Elena to see how silletas are made. Several farms open their doors for tours where silletero families explain the tradition, show their flower fields and let you try carrying a silleta. Santa Elena is also where you'll find Parque Arví, reached by Metrocable, so it's easy to combine the two. Book farm visits through a local operator or ask at your hotel.
Planning your trip
Book early. August is high season. Many Colombians travel to Medellín for the Feria, and hotels in El Poblado and Laureles fill up months in advance.
Expect crowds and closures. Streets close for parades and traffic is slow. Use the metro where you can.
Pick your days. The final weekend, with the Silleteros Parade, is the busiest. If you prefer a calmer visit, come for the first days of the festival, when the flower displays, Trova and tablados are already in full swing.
Watch your belongings. As with any big crowd, keep your phone and cash secure.
Dates. The festival runs for about 10 days at the start of August; the 2026 edition ended with the Silleteros Parade on the weekend of August 8 and 9. Exact dates for 2027 are usually announced in the first half of the year.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Feria de las Flores?
Every year in early August, for about 10 days. It ends with the Silleteros Parade on the final weekend.
Is the Feria de las Flores free?
Most events are. In 2026 about 80% of the city's public program was free. Grandstand seats for the Silleteros Parade and some concerts are ticketed.
What is a silletero?
A flower grower from Santa Elena who carries a silleta, a wooden frame covered in flowers, on their back. The tradition comes from how farmers once carried goods to market.
Where does the Silleteros Parade happen?
On a route of about 2.8 kilometers through the city, lined with grandstands. The route can change from year to year, so check the official program.
Can I visit a silletero farm?
Yes. Several farms in Santa Elena offer tours, especially in the weeks around the festival.
The places in this guide
Parque Ecoturístico Arví
Parque Arví is a vast protected forest park on the mountains east of Medellín, in the rural district of Santa Elena, and the cable car ride…
