The Flowers Fair is a 10-day annual celebration held each August in Medellin, Colombia. It is the city's most iconic cultural event, similar to carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and Munich. Events during the fair include a Silleteros Parade of farmers carrying flowers, horse parades, music performances, and cultural exhibits. With over 130 events showcasing the region's flowers, culture, and values, the Flowers Fair immerses the city in the vibrancy and traditions of Antioquia.

1. The Flowers Fair

3. Type Cultural
Entry Free
Scope National
First Event
1957
(Silleteros Parade)
1963
(Flowers Fair)
Last Event 2013
Frequency Annually
Promoter
Medellín Convención
& Visitors Bureau

4. The Flowers Fair is a traditional and massive event which is celebrated
for 10 days each year in Medellin, Colombia. This fair is the most iconic
celebration of the city, which constitutes a rooted, cultural and
historical icon, just like the Rio Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the feast of
October (Oktoberfest) in Bavaria, Germany or in Colombia also the
Barranquilla Carnival, the Cali Fair or Carnival of Blacks and Whites in
the city of Pasto. The carnival atmosphere during these days in
Medellin offers a wide variety of events and shows, not all directly
related to the flowers, but all the fun takes the general name of The
Flowers Fair since they are the main part of the carnival, while offering
entertainment and most striking and beautiful scenes also unique in
the world.

5. The beauty of the women of Santa Helena

6. Every year thousands of people gather around this holiday, designed to remember,
celebrate and perpetuate the values of Antioquia. The party has the intimate nature of
the paisa culture, and celebrates the blossoming and customs breed and regional race
and, in general, the whole life of the region. All of this in the evergreen, carnation,
sunflower and orchid smells.
Activities that give life to the Flowers Fair are manifold. There is usually more than 130
festivities, including music by tablados in all neighborhoods in the city, especially the
most popular. Such is the case also, among others, called Carriers Mulas and Fondas,
Silleteros Parade and the big Horse Ride Parade which is a great Guiness Record, and in
which 10,000 riders participate with their horses.
The Flowers Fair takes place between the months of July and August. Besides
Antioquians, this colossal event brings thousands of tourists who visit Medellin in
those days, turning the city into a vibrant space decked with people, besides, of
course, flowers, joy, peace and fun. With this carnival, Medellín, the "City of Eternal
Spring", has immersed itself for 54 years in its deepest nature and culture, through
which its inhabitants remember, and continue to enjoy valuable priding with
traditional elements of their particular world.
Meaning and origin of the Flowers Fair

7. “
”
Photo: Luis Pérez/ Popular Silleta as used
during the Silleteros Parade

8. The first Flowers Fair held in Medellín was on May 1, 1957- because May was the month
then assigned to the flowers on the initiative of Antioquia's illustrious Arturo Uribe
Arango, when he was a member of the board of the Office of Development and Tourism
of the city. This first celebration lasted five days and was naturally somewhat nascent
compared to the brightness of the actual show. However, with booths at several sites in
the city and private parties in social clubs, Antioquians were able to enjoy, for the first
time, the magical carnavalesque of the flowers exposed in public. In the programming
thence a flower exhibition in the atrium of the Metropolitan Cathedral, was organized
by the Garden Club of Medellín. When the Silleteros Parade started, only 40 farmers
participated from the village of Santa Elena, they had gathered in the Parque de
Bolívar.

9. Over time, the show was gaining strength to become the most important celebration of the city,
which today enjoys much prestige abroad. The celebration, which initially was held in May, from
1968 continued to be performed in August, commemorating month of the independence of
Antioquia, and since then has not stopped dressing with real seas of flowers and variety of colors
and scents, the streets of the city. It is a celebration that no tourist would want to miss, plus it is
beautiful what is done during this festivity, no need for bullfights or animal use in order to be one of
the most beautiful celebrations that take place annually in Colombia. Right before the celebration,
many Antioquians usually visit the village of Santa Elena to see how the "saddles" that carry the
flowers are produced during the fair. Due to the growing and the Flowers Fair the city is called "City
of Eternal Spring".

10. Some events of the Fair
Over the years, this ultimate expression of Antioquia has been
adding a wide variety of events that have grown in importance and
impact, such as the international Pageant of flowers, the famous
Horse Parade, Guinness World Record in 1996 and 1999, February
1st Parade of classic and vintage cars, the exhibition called Orchids,
birds and flowers, popular neighborhood Tablados and Carriers,
Mules and career Fondas 70, among others.

11. All kinds of activities
At the show you can enjoy activities for all tastes and all hours of the day,
even the most intense celebrations are held in the evening. Among them are:
• Horse Parade Flower Fair
• Parade of Classic and Antique Cars
• Silleteros Parade
• Carriers Mulas and Fondas
• Antiques Fair
• Equine Fair
• Martial Musician Band Contest "Festival of Flowers"
• Competition of talented women
• Exhibition of orchids, birds and flowers
• Tablados popular music
• National Festival of Trova
• chivas Caravan (typical vehicles) and flowers
• Cultural Park Night
• Orquideorama Botanical Garden

12. The amenities that Medellin offers during the fair includes all types of
environments, such as a variety of places to play day or night. They
recommended the Lleras Park and the Zona Rosa, "The 70", the House
Gardelina tango shows, popular tablados in different neighborhoods and
other areas of interest on which information can be obtained in travel
agencies and tourism or hotels in the city.
References
Wikipedia contributors. Flowers Fair [online]. Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia, 2014 [date accessed: July 23, 2014].
Available in
<http://es.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Feria_de_las_Flores&oldid=7574
4680>.