Festival of the Flowers

Month : August
Place : Medellin, Colombia
Famous For : Flower Festival
Attractions : Silleteros Parade, Pageant, Automobiles, Paso Fino Horse Parade, Musical Concerts

The Festival of the Flowers is a much awaited flower festival held in the Colombian city of Medellin. This blooming festival is organized every year during the month of August to celebrate the independence of Antioquia. The festival is the most important social event for the city and features the Silleteros Parade, a pageant, automobiles, a Paso Fino horse parade and many musical concerts. All in all, Festival of the Flowers is a refreshing event.

Major Attractions

The first Festival of the Flowers took place on May 1, 1957 and was organized by Arturo Uribe, a member of the Board of the Office of Development and Tourism. The festival lasted for 5 days with an exposition of flowers displayed in the Metropolitan Cathedral. It was organized by the Gardening Club of Medell"n and monsignor Tulio Botero to celebrate Virgin Mary day. The parade represents the end of slavery when instead of flowers slaves carried men and women on their backs up steep hills. The first Silleteros Parade also took place with some 40 men from the corregimiento of Santa Elena carrying on their backs flower arrangements to the exposition site. Some other events have been added like the International Pageant of the Flowers, the cavalcade, Guiness Records in 1996 and 1999, classic automobiles parade, Orchids exposition, among others.