Carnival Time | Colombia's Best Festivals

It's known for a reason. As the second largest carnival in the world (second only to Rio) the Barranquilla Carnival is Colombia's finest street celebration which takes place every February. Filled with an abundance of colour, costumes, music, dancing and more, which ignite the city for a four day long party, the Barranquilla Carnival is the must-see event of the Colombian calendar. 

 

Taking place in Medellin every August, this spectacular 10 day show of flowers and flower artwork is a spectacle that must be seen in the flesh. Alongside the floral masterpieces, there are also a host of concerts, shows and parades to look forward to - a joyful way to celebrate flower cultivation and other traditions from across the country.

 

A fabulous celebration taking place at the end of every year from 25th-30th December. The Cali Fair, held in Santiago de Cali, centres around music and dancing and has previously seen performances by Latin superstars such as Marc Anthony and Don Omar.

 

This week long festival held in January is the sequel to The Cali Fair. Displaying a mixture of both Spanish and Colombian traditions, including bullfighting and coffee pageants, the Manizales Fair takes inspiration from the April Fair in Seville, Spain. Another multi-day celebration of incredible concerts, parades and exhibitions.

 

Based in Cali, the World Salsa Festival is a salsa lover's dream. Eight days in what is known as the world capital of salsa music, with access to shows, workshops, talks and lessons from some of the most influential names in the industry. Thousands of musicians, artists and dancers gather for this show stopping festivity every August in Cali.

 

If partying all night long isn't your thing, you may prefer a calmer celebration in the form of Semana Santa's Easter celebrations. Every Easter, in the city of Popayan, processions take place with wooden carvings representing the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. There are also a number of other religious events which take place across the city and country including a wonderful festival of holy music.