La Feria De Las Flores: Festival Beyond the Cosmopolitan Gung-ho of Columbia!

La Feria De Las Flores: Festival Beyond the Cosmopolitan Gung-ho of Columbia!

Do tree parades, bird and orchid show, and huge fondas sound enticing to you? If yes, then Medellin's marvellous event, la feria de las flores, will give you ample opportunity to discover and explore the city.

The past two years were tough on this festival due to the pandemic. However, the festival will be returning once again in 2023, as this vibrant festival was only glimmering hope for the people of Columbia to smile.

However, you will wonder, what is La Feria De Las Flores?

The history of the festival!

The city of eternal spring, Medellin, was known as "the most dangerous city in the world" and has worked tremendously hard to transform its image correlated to drugs, gun violence, and gang wars.

And it is safe to say that la feria de las Flores has played a considerable role. This festival has enticed travellers all around the globe and has made the city a famous travel destination with a hot spot for dining, glamorous bars, and mesmerising coffee.

The widely popular "Desfile de Silleteros", which translates to "Parade of flower carriers", was first introduced in 1957. Arturo Uribe arranged the flower festival, a higher official in the Development and Tourism department, to bring tourists back to the city.

Initially, the festival was 5-day-long. An exhibition of flowers was exhibited in the city's cathedral. The flower parade was arranged to indicate slavery's end. In the times of slavery, enslaved people used to carry their owners on their backsides to climb sharp hills instead of flower carts.

The 10-day-long Flower Carnival!

One of the largest festivals of not only the city but the country, la feria de las flores is themed around Colombia's growing flower culture. Colombia is only behind Holland when it comes to flower-exporting countries, with the country earning more than $1 billion per annum.

Antioquia region is where almost all of the export quality flowers are grown. Additionally, it is the capital of Medellin as well. Santa Elena, 40 km from Medellin, is the heart of the flower-growing industry of the country.

The festival has slowly become a worldwide sensation as more than 25,000 people attended this festival, of which 60% were natives while 40% were tourists.

This festival is held for over ten days, each with special significance. For ten days, the residents of Medellin and Colombia enjoy parades, lip-smacking food, artisanal products, arts, music, and of course, lots of parties.

The festival's main attraction is "Desfile de Silleteros", organised on the event's last day.

Other attractions include a vintage car parade, concerts by famous artists, cultural musical nights, a Harley Davidson Bike rally, etc.

Conclusion In addition to La Feria De Las Flores, there are various private events, including festivals, cultural events at shopping malls, concerts, zesty restaurants, glitzy bars, and glittering nightclubs, making Medellin one of the most preferred cities of foreigners to settle and travellers to visit.