The Feria de las Flores is one of the great festivals of Latina America. The feria welcomes millions of visitors each year who come to celebrate local culture, enjoy the amazing floral displays, attend huge concerts and party with the paisas.
In this article we will look at the history of the event, some of the big parade, activities for the children and major concerts scheduled for this year’s event.
History of the Feria de las Flores
The Feria de las Flores was first held in 1957 with the Antioquia Office of Tourism organizing an event to highlight and celebrate the region’s flower farmers (known as silleteros) who come from nearby Santa Elena. The main event of the feria is the Desfile de Silleteros (parade of the silleteros). Silletas are wooden structures that can be used to carry goods on the back. These were used to carry flowers to market and have evolved into a celebration of the nature and creativity of the region.
By the 1960s the Feria had expanded to include horse parades (cabalgatas), the classic car show, music festivals, pageants and cultural events. In 1963 the Feria was moved to August to commemorate Medellin’s independence which was on 2 August 1813. In 1974 the silleteros parade was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation and today the Feria de las Flores is a 10 day extravaganza which brings millions of visitors from Colombia and abroad.
Silleteros Parade
The silleteros parade is the key event at the Feria de las Flores. Over 600,000 people will line the route as over 500 silleteros carry beautifully crafted silletas covered with floral arrangements celebrating local tradition, culture and institutions.
The parade begins at 2pm on Sunday 10 August in 2025 and will run alongside the river, up Avenida del Ferrocarril, and finish at Plaza Mayor. Get there early to find a spot at the front along the route or consider reserving a place on one of the covered seating areas. The parade is free, but these palcos have an additional cost.
Bring suncream and water as you will be in the sun and prepare for crowds but it is highly recommended. The displays are great and it is a real event. There are young children carrying smaller silletas and older people who have participated in the event every year for over 50 years.
Classic Car Parade
The Classic and Antique Car Parade (Desfile de Autos Clásicos y Antiguos) has become a big part of the Feria, with over 200 iconic vehicles, from Ford Ts to elegant convertibles, taking to the Medellin streets.
The event will take place on Friday 7 August 2025. The route starts at UPB University in Laureles and heads to EAFIT University in Poblado, usually running for around 20km down the 33, across the main highway and along Las Vegas Avenue.
The event benefits local nonprofit organizations and is recognized by the International Federation of Historic Vehicles (FIVA). You can see all sorts of vehicles, including classic sedans, station wagons, convertibles, motorbikes, military vehicles, and iconic models like Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar E-Type, and even century-old Ford Ts
Feria by Bicycle
Feria a Ritmo de Bicicleta (Bike Parade) will take place on Saturday 2 August at 2pm with participants leaving Parque de los Pies Descalzos, next to the EPM Building downtown.
The route runs for around 12km across the city passing key sites linked to Medellin’s commitment to development and sustainability. Expect people to dress up in traditional clothes or fun costumes plus you will see some classic and beautifully decorated bikes.
Participation is free but you need to register online in advance and you can also find bike rental companies in the city.
Visiting Santa Elena
Santa Elena is the traditional home of the silleteros and is a very popular destination before and during the Feria de las Flores. The picturesque town is around 20km from the center of Medellin and accessible by taxi or bus from Terminal del Norte. There are also regular guided tours of the small town.
Many farms open their doors to visitors, showcasing flower cultivation and silleta-making. You can learn about the history and traditions, try some of the local food and enjoy a great view from Cerro El Volador. They wil have flower markets where you can buy flowers and souvenirs plus they have live musical perfomances in the central plaza.
2025 Concerts
During the Feria you can attend some of the biggest concerts of the year with top international and local artists. Some are free while others are ticketed, below are some of the biggest events schedule this year:
Súper Concierto is always a highlight of the Feria de las Flores with the big stars performing a huge concert at the Atanasio Giradot, the biggest stadium in the city. This year the concert will be on Saturday 9 August.
This year’s event will be headlined by Juan Luis Guerra, a famous Dominican performer who combines Merengue with a tropical fusion of genres, Fuerza Regida, a charismatic Mexican group combining traditional sounds with more contemporary urban influence, and Juanes, one of the great Spanish rock performers from Medellin.
This is always a good time and there is a very diverse lineup announced with many more sure to be added. At ground level there are tables which can be booked in groups with table service while you can buy individual tickets in the stands. I went with a friend from England and we arrived late so found a spot right at the top of the stadium. We had a great time with the music, the view of the city and a nice breeze.
Single tickets range in price from 90,000 COP with tables close to the stage up to 1,800,000 COP.
Concierto Inaugural always celebrates the opening of the Feria with a free concert on Carrera 74 in front of Obelisco next to the Atanasio Giradot stadium. While the line up has not yet been announced, you can expect some big stars.
Last year’s opening had Mexican superstar Alejandro Fernandez who has sold over 20 million albums, top reggaeton artist Myke Towers and Colombian Carlos Vives, one of the best-selling Latin music stars of all time.
La Gran Noche Bailable de La Feria is a concert with many famous artists from across Latin America with a focus on salsa, mergengue, cumbia and other traditional rhythms. The concert will be held at Plaza Mayor event venue with a capacity of 5,000.
Artists include Venezuelan groups and artists Melódicos, Orquesta La Playa, Luis Felipe Gonzalez and Super Combo Los Tropicales, all who have been making big hits since the 1960s. This will be a night full of legends of the genre and should attract a more mature audience ready to here the hits.
La Tripleta de la Salsa is a big salsa event with three legends which will be held on 12 August in Parque Norte next to the Universidad de Antioquia. The show will include three of the salsa greats; Andy Montañez, Charlie Aponte and Henry Fiol. Montañez and Aponte were members of the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico while native New Yorker helped popularize Cuban rhythms in the US and across the Americas.
This is a rare chance to see three of the all-time salsa greats who have produced dozens of influential albums and shaped the history of salsa music.
Expect many more events and artists to be announced as we move closer to the Feria de las Flores.
National Trovar Festival
Trovar is a fun tradition from Medellin and the Antioquia region which involves improvised poetry performed with a popular local rhythm. The trovadores engage in improves battles where they will make witty and often cheeky comments. It is like a rap battle full of creativity and playfull punchlines.
Traditional trovar’s have 4 lines while 8 line trovars are more musical with performance elements.
At the Feria de las Flores the King of the Trovar will be crowned on Friday 8 August. Semifinals will be on 1 and 2 August while regional heads are already underway across Antioquia, Bogota, Uraba and the coffee region.
Children’s Activities
During the Feria de las Flores there are many activities aimed at children and families. Parque Norte, a theme park located next to Universidad Metro station, always have a busy schedule of events. In 2025 they will host 16 shows per day featuring puppetry, circus performances, music, dance and street performers all themed for children.
There is a children’s trova day which is a lot of fun with young children coming up with clever improvised wordplay. On Carrera 52 there is an alternative to the traditional cabalgata which features thousands of children riding wooden hobby-horses through downtown.
The pet parade and the bike parades are also fun for children.
