Festivals in Colombia
Encyclopedia
Major Colombian Carnivals and Festivals
- Barranquilla's CarnivalBarranquilla's CarnivalBarranquilla's Carnaval is Colombia's most important folklore celebration, one of the biggest carnivals in the world. The carnival has traditions that date back to the 19th century...
(Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla), it holds the second largest carnival parades in the world after Rio de Janeiro'sBrazilian CarnivalThe Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations...
. The Carnival was proclaimed by UNESCO as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of HumanityThe Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural...
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- Carnival of Blacks and WhitesCarnival of Blacks and WhitesBlacks and Whites' Carnival , is the largest and most important celebration in southern Colombia, its geographical indication belongs to the city of Pasto...
(Spanish: Carnaval de Negros y Blancos) held from January 4 to January 6 in PastoPastoPasto, officially San Juan de Pasto, is the capital of the department of Nariño, located in southwest Colombia. The city is located in the "Atriz Valley", on the Andes cordillera, at the foot of the Galeras volcano, at an altitude of 8,290 feet above sea level...
. Its origins date back to the SpanishSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
rule times when slaves were allowed to celebrate on 5th and their masters showed their approval on 6th by painting their faces black. On these days they either put grease or talcum powder on their faces.
- Manizales Fair (Spanish: Feria de Manizales) celebrated in the city of ManizalesManizalesManizales is a city and municipality in central Colombia, capital of Department of Caldas and part of the region of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis, near the Nevado del Ruiz volcano....
the first weeks of the year. Costume groups in fancy dress take over the city. A congeniality coffee queen is elected and bullfighting (Spanish: faenas) takes place.
- Bambuco Pageant and Folkloric FestivalFestival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del BambucoThe Bambuco Pageant and Folkloric Festival is the largest and most important celebration in Huila Department and one of the most important celebrations in southern Colombia. It is celebrated annually in the city of Neiva during the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul and attracts a considerable number...
(Festival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco) in Neiva held on June 28 and June 29 for Saint PeterSaint PeterSaint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
's and Saint Paul's days celebrating BambucoBambucoBambuco is a traditional music genre originated from Colombia. It has a beat structure similar to the European waltz or polska...
.
- Cali FairCali FairThe Cali's Fair is the most important cultural event in Cali, Colombia. It is a celebration of the region's cultural identity, famous for the Salsa marathon, horse riding parades and dance parties....
(Spanish: Feria de Cali), held in CaliCalìCalì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
from December 25 to New YearNew YearThe New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
's Eve. It is famous for its Salsa marathon concerts attended by renowned SalsaSalsa musicSalsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
bands. There are horse riding parades (Spanish: cabalgatas), masquerades and dances groups.
- Festival of the FlowersFestival of the FlowersFestival of the Flowers is a festival that takes place in Medellín, Colombia. The festival is the most important social event for the city and there is a pageant, automobiles, a Paso Fino horse parade and many musical concerts.-History:...
(Spanish: Feria de las Flores), is held during August in the city of MedellínMedellínMedellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
with its flowers parade and the main attraction called the Desfile de Silleteros.
- Bogota's CarnivalBogota's CarnivalBogotá's Carnival or Carnival of Bogotá is celebrated in Bogotá every year on August 5 and August 6 for the city's anniversary of its Hispanic foundation. Most of the cultural events take place in the heart of Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar The festivities also include pre-carnival...
(Spanish: Carnaval de Bogotá) starting around August 6, in order to commemorate the cities birthday, is a combination of various cultural events including masquerades, dances, and parades, among others. Parallel to this, the Bogotá Summer Festival is held, in which there are different social, cultural and sporting events, mainly in the area near the Simón Bolívar ParkSimón Bolívar ParkThe Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park best known as the Simón Bolívar Park is a greenspace and entertainment and sports complex located in the middle of the city of Bogotá, Colombia.The park is named after the Latin American Liberator Simón Bolívar...
Regional and folkloric festivities
- The YipaoYipaoThe Yipao or Jeep parade is folkloric celebration in the Colombian department of Quindío, specially during the anniversary parties of the departmental capital Armenia.-Jeep-Willys history in Colombia :...
or Jeep Parade in Armenia, ColombiaArmenia, ColombiaArmenia is the capital of Quindío, a department in Colombia. The city is located at coordinates 4.5170° north, 75.6830° west, 290 kilometers west of Bogotá. Armenia is a mid-size city located between Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, the 3 largest Colombian cities. The city's area code for phone calls is...
- Pubenza FestivitiesPubenza FestivitiesThe Pubenza Festivities are a festival that takes place in Popayán, Colombia, known for its competition of Chirimías which were folkloric musical groups. See Festivals in Colombia for more Colombian festivals....
(Spanish: Fiestas de Pubenza), in PopayánPopayánPopayán is the capital of the Colombian department of Cauca. It is located in southwestern Colombia between Colombia's Western Mountain Range and Central Mountain Range...
, known for its competition of Chirimias (folkloric musical groups).
- Riosucio´s Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Riosucio) held in Riosucio, CaldasRiosucio, CaldasRiosucio is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Caldas.Every two years the people of Riosucio celebrate a Carnaval which is a cultural celebration where the Devil in figure takes over the town and they have comparsas, dances, and all kind of events....
the first 2 weeks of January every two years. In 2009 it was held from the 2nd to 8th January and in 2011 from the 6th to 12th January. It remembers past traditions with a mixture of art, music and customes by groups called Cuadrilas, drinking the traditional Guarapo carried in Calabazos. During the carnival, the image of a cool and happy devil is exhibitted.
- Harvest Festival of Pereira (Spanish: Fiestas de la Cosecha de Pereira), in PereiraPereira, ColombiaPereira is the capital city of the Colombian department of Risaralda. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley that descends from a part of the western Andes mountain chain. Its strategic location in the coffee producing area makes the city an urban...
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- Colombian Folklore Festival (Spanish: Festival Folklórico Colombiano) in IbaguéIbaguéIbagué is the capital of the department of Tolima in Colombia. It is situated 1,285 m above sea level, on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central between the Chipalo and Combeima rivers, tributaries of the Coello River...
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- Medellin's Tango Street (Spanish: Tangovía) on Carlos GardelCarlos GardelCarlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
Avenue in the suburb of Manrique.
- JoropoJoropoThe Joropo is a musical style resembling the waltz, and an accompanying dance, having African and European influences originated in Venezuela and performed in Colombia and Venezuela. It's a fundamental genre belonging to its typical music or música criolla...
National Festival (Spanish: Festival Nacional del Joropo) in VillavicencioVillavicencioVillavicencio is a city and municipality in Colombia, capital of the Department of Meta, with 361,058 inhabitants. The city is located at 4°08S, 73°40W, 75 km southeast of the Colombian capital city of Bogotá by the Guatiquía river...
in December.
- Candles and Lanterns FestivalDía de las VelitasDía de las Velitas is one of the most observed traditional holidays of Colombia. It is celebrated on December 7, on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in Colombia...
(Spanish: Fiesta de Velas y Faroles) is held in QuimbayaQuimbaya, QuindíoQuimbaya is a town and municipality in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is 20 km northwest of the departmental capital Armenia...
, QuindíoQuindío DepartmentQuindío is a department of Colombia. It is in the western central region of the country, crossed by the Andes mountains. Its capital is Armenia. It is famous for the quality of the coffee plantations, colorful architecture, benign weather, variety of hotel accommodations and touristic landmarks...
on December 7 and 8. Each of the barrioBarrioBarrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
s in the township compete to produce the most spectacular lighting arrangements.
- Green Moon Festival (Spanish: Festival de la Luna Verde) celebrated in the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, this is a unique festival with characteristics that make it different from any other festival in Colombia. Here the Afro-Caribbean influence is very strong, and predominance of the English languageEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
lyrics of CalypsoCalypso musicCalypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
and ReggaeReggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
.
- National Festival of the DividiviNational Festival of the DividiviThe National Festival of the Dividivi is a festival in the Department of La Guajira, Colombia. The festival was created in 1969 by mandate of then mayor of Riohacha, Ernestina Serrano....
in La Guajira Department.
- Festival of the Wayuu CultureFestival of the Wayuu CultureThe Festival of the Wayuu Culture is a festival in Colombia, celebrated in the town of Uribia, Department of La Guajira. It takes place from May 31 through June 2 of every year....
in La Guajira Department.
- Festivities of Our Lady of the RemediesFestivities of Our Lady of the RemediesFestivities of Our Lady of the Remedies is a festival that takes place in the northern Colombian city of Riohacha, Department of La Guajira. The festival takes place between January 20 to February 9 of each year. The events vary from corralejas, street parties to horse races.The festivities...
in La Guajira Department.
El dia de las velas The day of the candles held on December 7th
Fine art and theatre festivals
- The Ibero-American Theater Festival held in BogotáBogotáBogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
every two years, is the biggest theater festival in the world.
Music Festivals
- Rock al ParqueRock al parqueRock al Parque, is a rock music festival taking place in Bogotá, Colombia, since 1995. The festival's entry is free of charge. In 2004, 400,000 people reached the event. It is considered the most important rock festival in Latin America. It has ska, punk, hardcore, metal, and other genres on its...
in July, is the second largest rock festival in Latinamerica, after Rock in Rio. Around 1000 rock bands have participated in this event; both local and international bands. ApocalypticaApocalypticaApocalyptica is a band from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 1993. The band is composed of classically trained cellists Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso and drummer Mikko Sirén...
, SlipknotSlipknot (band)Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, Plastilina MoshPlastilina MoshPlastilina Mosh is a Mexican alternative rock group from Monterrey, México, part of the musical movement known as Avanzada Regia. Jonás González is the lead singer and guitar player. Alejandro Rosso is more involved with the creative process, providing most of the instrumentation and occasional...
and Manu ChaoManu ChaoManu Chao , is a French singer of Spanish roots . He sings in French, Spanish, English, Italian, Galician, Arabic and Portuguese and occasionally in other languages...
have performed in Rock al Parque, among other internationally famous bands. The event is held annually in Simón Bolívar ParkSimón Bolívar ParkThe Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park best known as the Simón Bolívar Park is a greenspace and entertainment and sports complex located in the middle of the city of Bogotá, Colombia.The park is named after the Latin American Liberator Simón Bolívar...
in Bogotá.
- Vallenato Legend FestivalVallenato Legend FestivalThe Vallenato Legend Festival is one of the most important musical festivals in Colombia. The Festival features a vallenato music contests for best interpreter of accordion, caja vallenata and guacharaca, as well as piqueria and best song...
(Spanish: Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata). Held in ValleduparValleduparValledupar is a city and municipality in northeastern Colombia. It is the capital of Cesar Department and was founded in 1550 by the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Santana. Its name, Valle de Upar , was established in honor of the Amerindian cacique who ruled the valley; Cacique Upar...
, CesarCesar DepartmentCesar Department or simply Cesar is a department of Colombia located in the north of the country in the Caribbean region, bordering to the north with the Department of La Guajira, to the west with the Department of Magdalena and Department of Bolivar, to the south with Department of Santander, to...
, in April or May. The festival is a celebration of vallenatoVallenatoVallenato, along with cumbia, is currently a popular folk music of Colombia. It primarily comes from the Colombia's Caribbean region. Vallenato literally means "born in the valley". The valley influencing this name is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía de Perijá in...
music and also a competition to find the best accordionist of the year and to select the Vallenato King (Spanish: Rey Vallenato) among hundreds of participants from all over the country.
- Cradle of Accordions FestivalCradle of Accordions FestivalThe Cradle of Accordions Festival is a festival in the Colombian northern town of Villanueva, Department of La Guajira in the month of September. The Cradle of Accordions Festival is celebrated on the same day as Saint Thomas and many vallenato musicians from the Department of Cesar and La Guajira...
(Spanish: Festival Cuna de Acordeones) in Villanueva, La GuajiraVillanueva, La GuajiraVillanueva is a town and municipality located in the northern Department of La Guajira, Colombia. Villanueva is known in Colombia for being the cradle of many vallenato singers and composers...
- Cali UndergroundCali UndergroundCali Underground is an annual rock music festival celebrated in Cali, ColombiaThe Cali Underground Festival is a time for music and magic in the city of Cali Colombia in south America!- History :...
in CaliCalìCalì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
.