¡Fiesta! ¡Fiesta! ¡Fiesta! If there’s one thing Colombians love it’s a party…or a festival…or a carnival…or a parade. Colombian festivals abound all year long, and we cover the most important or most common ones in this article.
After reading about these festivals in Colombia, we’re pretty sure you’ll be dying to visit. You might also want to learn some Spanish with Rosetta Stone, which offers an immersive method of language learning designed to get you speaking on the very first day.
Table of Contents
1. Carnaval de Negros y Blancos (Black and White Carnival)
When: Late December into January
Where: San Juan de Pasto
What to expect: A celebration of mestizaje, or the intermingling of various cultures and races (including Pacific, Amazonian, and Andean), this is the most important carnival in southern Colombia. It was initiated in the mid-sixteenth century after the arrival of the Spanish. The festival underwent a process of fusion among indigenous, African, and Catholic traditions.
Three Kings Day on January 5th was declared a holiday for the African slaves (negritos) to celebrate their heritage, so coloring the town and their faces black became a fun game. This tradition took great hold in the region of Pastos. Much later on January 6th, a blancos (whites) game started in a brothel, where tailors powdered people’s faces of everyone there or at the church after mass.
Carnaval de Negros y Blancos developed even more until it became what it is today: a parade known for its exceptional artistry in terms of its floats. These huge sculptural creations of bright colors take about a year to create and sometimes hold dozens of dancers.
On the second to the last day of the festival, attendees wear a dark pigmentation to honor the traditional heritage. Then on the last day, they apply white powder to their faces. As a whole, these black and white cosmetics are meant to represent the unity of the races. The Carnaval de Negros y Blancos is included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Fun fact: Carnaval kicks off with the Water Carnival where water fights with balloons and buckets are all part of street fun. If you decide to venture out, be prepared to get wet!
>> Learn Colombian Spanish: the “easiest” Spanish dialect
2. Feria de Manizales (Manizales Fair)
When: early January
Where: Manizales
What to expect: Manizales, Columbia, is famous for its coffee, and one highlight of this fair is the Coffee Queen competition. It’s a beauty pageant that attracts contestants from around Columbia and even neighboring countries. There’s also another competition in which trova singers compete by singing improvised lyrics.
Though it has its share of floats, folklore and music like other Colombian festivals, Feria de Manizales has a couple unique events that other festivals in Columbia don’t hold: bullfighting and tango events. Don’t be fooled that this is a small festival—over 300 events are held each year. You’ll find something fun to do with the locals!
Fun fact: This fair was inspired by the April Fair in Seville, Spain, but this version has a distinct Columbian flair.
3. Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas)
When: Early February
Where: Various places in Colombia but especially in Cartagena
What to expect: Día de la Candelaria commemorates the moment when the Virgin Mary took the infant Jesus and some candles to be blessed in the temple.
In Cartagena, you’ll see processions, fairs, and cabalgatas, which are popular parades. The focal point is usually horses and riders but you’ll also see bands, music, and floats designed to celebrate this special moment. People also climb up Cerro de la Popa (Popa Hill) and descend with an image of the Virgin of Candelaría. Candlemas is also celebrated as a popular festival in Peru.
Fun fact: The Virgin of Candelaria is represented by a black Madonna statue in Tenerife, Spain, in the Canary Islands.
4. Carnaval de Barranquilla
When: January into February
Where: Barranquilla
What to expect: This centuries-old Colombian festival is the biggest celebration of all, with pre-event celebrations happening for several weeks. The Barranquilla Carnival takes place over four days, filling the streets with bright colors, masks, dances, music, and so much more. Tickets are required to attend, but it’s worth doing as it might be the “partiest” party you’ll attend in Columbia. Plan to be here on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, as that’s usually the start date of the festival.
Fun fact: You can learn a lot of cultural dances like the African congo, indigenous mico y micas, or multiple Colombian dances like porro and puya.
5. Festival de Música Andina Colombiana ‘Mono Núñez’ (Andean Music Festival)
When: Early March
Where: Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo, Bogotá
What to expect: Characterized as “the most important Andean music event of Colombia,” this festival is also considered to be one of the best of its kind in Latin America. Each year, the most exceptional participants are selected, and they become the headliners for the following festival. Music lovers don’t miss out on this lyrical festival that’s held annually in Bogotá.
Fun fact: The festival is also simply called El Mono Núñez, the nickname for the Colombian musician named Benigno Núñez.
6. Semana Santa (Holy Week)
When: the week before Easter
Where: Popoyán, Mompox, and elsewhere
What to expect: The majority of Colombians are Catholic, and it’s common to celebrate the entire week before Easter. Most people take at least Thursday and Friday off of work. In Popoyán, regular processions happen during the week representing biblical events leading up to the crucifixion. Participants carry flowers, statues, and lit candles.
With traditions stretching back to colonial times, Holy Week in Mompox involves the participation of seven of the city’s colonial churches and the carrying of religious statuary through the streets. One highlight of the week: the Serenata a los Difuntos (Serenade to the Dead) at the city’s cemetery.
Fun fact: Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox. If the full moon happens to occur on a Sunday, then Easter is the following Sunday.
7. Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena (Cartagena International Cinema Festival)
When: mid-April
Where: Cartagena
What to expect: This festival is completely free and filled with the best films in Colombia and other Latin American countries. A unique feature of this film festival is the Ópera Prima Lab, which shows the new work of young directors and producers living in Colombia. Cine en los Barrios believes in the power of art to transform humanity. This program takes film screenings and workshops to different neighborhoods of the city. Prizes called the Premios India Catalina recognize exceptional work in television are awarded during the festival.
Fun fact: The FICCI is the oldest film festival in South America! It’s been going strong since 1960.
8. Feria Internacional del Libro de Bogotá (Bogotá International Book Fair)
When: April into May
Where: Corferias, Bogotá
What to expect: A book lover’s dream, this book fair includes two weeks of book stands, readings, and other literary events. It’s attended by about 63,000 people, with 500 notable guests, and 2,000 activities. The fair is not just for book lovers, translators, and writers, but also for those involved in the making of books such as publishers, editors, and graphic designers.
Fun fact: Book fairs are popular all over Latin America and are often abbreviated as FIL. The Bogotá Book Fair’s initials are written as FILBo.
9. Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata (Vallenato Festival)
When: April 30–May 4, 2024
Where: Valledupar
What to expect: Vallenato is a traditional musical style that originated from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, but it’s also played in other parts of Latin America. With influences from the likes of merengue and son, vallenato is played with just three instruments: the accordion, the snare drum, and the guacharaca, a percussion instrument usually made from a palm tree.
You can watch a competition between male and female accordion players until two are named king and queen. Witness people of all ages honor women’s traditional music-making activities by dancing the pilón dance in spectacular costumes with corn-grinding props. And you won’t want to miss the Willys Paranderos parade of old jeeps or the tenor voice of Iván Villazón.
Fun fact: Vallenato has been inscribed on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
10. Fiestas de San Juan y San Pedro y Reinado Nacional de Bambuco
When: late June to early July
Where: Neiva, Tolima and Espinal, Huila
What to expect: This local Colombian festival called Feasts of St. John & St. Peter & the Bambuco Pageant features live music, gorgeous regional costumes, and traditional bambuco and sanjuanero dances. With origins dating back to the colonial era when they specifically honored St. John and St. Peter, these celebrations took on new popularity in the 1960s as a way to “heal wounds” from the violence experienced in Colombia at that time. Today, they are a celebration of life and the joyfulness of folkloric dances.
Fun fact: These celebrations are so important that they are considered as Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
11. La Fería de las Flores (Medellín Flower Fair)
When: July into August
Where: Different neighborhoods of Medellín and in Santa Elena (about 45 minutes east of Medellín)
What to expect: It’s held in Antioquia, a major exporter of flowers, so La Fería de las Flores is a series of events centered around the theme of flowers. Here are a few notable events.
- Desfile de Silleteros: Beginning in Santa Elena, this is a parade of chairs that have been elaborately decorated with flowers. Flower growers of the region are known as silleteros (chair makers or carriers) since the young, the elderly, and the infirm were carried on the backs of silleteros on a little chair centuries ago. The practice carried over to colonial times when colonizers were transported with these chairs. Some of the silletas are so laden with flowers they weigh over 150 pounds.
- Desfile de Auto Clásicos y Antiguos: A parade of classic and antique cars with some of the cars sparsely adorned with flowers.
- La Feria a Ritmo de Bicicleta: A beautiful part of the fair that features bicycle riders who have decorated their bicis (bikes) with flowers.
- Festival Nacional de la Trova: Trova music originated in Cuba and is a kind of Latin American folk music. This National Festival of Trova is a festival within a festival!
- Caravana de Chivas y Flores: A chiva is a kind of old, funky, open-air bus. In this case, the buses are decorated with flowers and carry musicians.
Fun fact: This fair, which began in 1957, is considered to be the most important festival of Medellín.
12. Cartagena Independence Fair or Cartagena Carnaval
When: November
Where: Cartagena
What to expect: Boasting about 30 events for all ages, this celebration of Cartagena’s independence gets started at the Plaza de la Aduana in the early evening. As is typical of Colombian festivals, you’ll experience live music. But what stands out for this festival is the honor of fire as a symbol of traditional dancing. Stay for the Noche de Candelas y Jolgorio de Tambores y Candadoras, a night procession with dancing, costumes, drumming, singing, torches, and a live band.
The Desfile de las Fiestas (Parade of the Festivities) generally takes place a couple of days before on avenida Santander where you can watch costumed dancers and live music enliven the streets. Entrance is free but limited, so get there early.
Fun fact: This independence festival has been held annually since 1811!
13. Feria de Cali (Cali Fair)
When: December
Where: Cali
What to expect: The Feria de Cali celebrates cultura popular (popular culture) and also embraces a long history of traditional culture. You’ll find a variety of events to attend, but you’ll need to purchase tickets.
- Salsódromo (Salsa Parade): About 2 miles in length and lasting around 5 hours, the Salsa Parade involves music and dancing galore presented by the best dancers in the country.
- La Fiesta de Mi Pueblo (My Town’s Celebration): This parade has about 35 floats and 1,500 participants to highlight the different neighborhoods in and around Cali.
- Desfile de Joyas Rodantes (Parade of Gems on Wheels): As the name implies, this is a parade of classic and antique cars.
- Carnaval de Cali Viejo (Carnival of Old Cali): This is a more traditional parade with music, costumes, and dancing that reflects the rich mix of Colombian culture and history, including indigenous, Spanish, and African heritages.
The fair features mini-festivals and small fairs, some of which have as many as six locations on any given day. The smaller events from last year include:
- Feria Rural y Comunera (Rural and Neighborhood Fair): This fair within the fair lasts during the entire event and has nearly 40 events alone, spread out over the city at about 7 locations.
- Festival de Orquestas (Orchestra Festival): With heavy emphasis on salsa dancing, the festival has about twenty live orchestras at different locations.
- Encuentro de Melómanos y Coleccionistas (Music Fans and Collectors Encounter): Taking place over the course of the entire fair, the encounter has live music such as tropical or Cuban music for 11 hours a day. Collectors can buy music-related items like vinyl albums and antique instruments.
- Feria Alternativa (Alternative Fair): Featuring blues, jazz, rock, Andean music, etc., this fair is the place for those who may not be fans of salsa.
Fun fact: Over a million people attended the Feria de Cali last year.
>>Get a feel for Spanish today with basic words and phrases.
Explore the festivals in Colombia while learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone
Colombia is a country of fascinating traditions and history unlike any other. With a mostly tropical climate and friendly people proud to share their festivities and customs with others, it’s a great place to visit or study. If you’d like your Spanish to be understood more easily before you go, TruAccent can give you instant feedback on your pronunciation as you learn through Rosetta Stone.
0 Commentaires