Every year, for about ten days in late July and early August, Medellín turns into a flower fair. Concerts, parades, flower shows, and on the final Sunday the event the whole thing is built around: the Desfile de Silleteros, when flower growers walk down from Santa Elena carrying their arrangements on their backs.
The 2027 dates#
Not announced yet. The Feria de las Flores is held every year in late July and early August, and the city confirms the exact programme in the first half of the year. In 2026 it ran in early August. Until the official announcement, plan for the first half of August 2027 and keep flights flexible. This page will be updated when the dates are published.
What the fair is#
The Feria de las Flores started in 1957 as a small flower exhibition and grew into Medellín's biggest week. It celebrates the silleteros: the growers of Santa Elena, a rural district in the hills above the city, who for generations carried flowers to market on wooden frames (silletas) strapped to their backs.
The Desfile de Silleteros#
The closing parade, on the fair's last Sunday. Hundreds of silleteros, from children to grandparents, walk a route through the city with silletas on their backs: some are traditional arrangements, some are emblematic designs spelling out a message, and the biggest are monumental pieces that take a family weeks to build and weigh as much as a person. Prizes are awarded by category. It is the one event not to miss.
How to see it:
- The route runs along a main avenue and is published with the programme. Free spots along the barriers fill from early morning; arrive two or three hours ahead.
- Paid grandstand seats are sold through the official programme if you want a guaranteed view.
- Bring a hat, water and sunscreen. It is long and it is midday.
- Public transport (the Metro) is the way in and out; roads near the route close.
Before the parade: Santa Elena#
In the days before the parade, some silletero families open their fincas in Santa Elena to visitors: you see how the frames are built, how the flowers are chosen and fixed, and the generations involved. Santa Elena is about an hour from the city. Going with someone local who knows a family is the easiest way to be invited in rather than just looking from the road.
The rest of the programme#
- Desfile de Autos Clásicos: a parade of classic and antique cars through the city.
- Festival Nacional de la Trova: competitions of improvised, rhymed, sung verse, a Paisa tradition that is funnier than it sounds even if your Spanish is limited.
- Flower and orchid exhibitions, often at the Botanical Garden and at Plaza Mayor.
- Concerts, free and paid, across the city.
- Neighbourhood events, food and street life everywhere.
The horse parade (cabalgata) that was once part of the fair was discontinued years ago; ignore guides that still list it.
Where to stay and when to book#
El Poblado has the hotels, the restaurants and the nightlife. Laureles is quieter, more local, with excellent food and a metro station. Both fill up for the fair and prices climb, so book months ahead, not weeks. Where to stay in Medellín goes neighbourhood by neighbourhood, and Medellín in August covers the weather and the rest of the month.
Practical#
- Safety: the usual big-city rules, and extra attention in crowds. Is Medellín safe? has the honest answer.
- Getting around: the Metro, Metrocable and app taxis. Avoid driving during the fair.
- Beyond the fair: things to do in Medellín, and Medellín nightlife, by a local for the evenings.
- The other big week: the Christmas lights in December, the alumbrados.
See it with someone from Medellín#
Medellín has the second most Local Friends of any city on Roavi. A Local Friend is someone from the city who spends a few hours with you at a rate they set themselves: a trip to Santa Elena to meet a silletero family before the parade, a spot on the route, the trova festival explained line by line, the neighbourhood party you would never find alone. You message free and pay them directly.
Feria week with someone who grew up with it.
Meet a local guide in MedellínEvery Local Friend in the city, with languages and hourly rates: Local Friends in Medellín. The region's other big fairs: Feria de Cali 2026 and the best festivals in Latin America.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Feria de las Flores 2027?
Not announced yet. The fair is held every year over about ten days in late July and early August, and the Medellín city government confirms the exact dates in the first half of the year. In 2026 it ran in early August. Plan for the first half of August and check the official programme before booking flights.What is the Desfile de Silleteros?
The parade that closes the fair, on its final Sunday. Flower growers from Santa Elena, a rural district above Medellín, walk through the city carrying silletas: wooden frames loaded with flower arrangements, some weighing as much as a person. It started in 1957 and is the event the whole fair is built around.How do I get a good spot for the silleteros parade?
The route runs along a main avenue and is announced with the programme. Free spots fill from early morning, so arrive two or three hours ahead; paid grandstand seats are sold through the official programme. Shade, water and a hat matter more than people expect: it is a long parade under the midday sun.What else happens during the fair?
The Desfile de Autos Clásicos (classic cars), the Festival Nacional de la Trova (improvised sung verse, a Paisa tradition), orchid and flower exhibitions, concerts and neighbourhood events across the city. The horse parade (cabalgata) that used to be part of the fair was discontinued years ago.Where should I stay for the Feria de las Flores?
El Poblado for hotels, restaurants and nightlife; Laureles for a quieter, more local neighbourhood with good food and metro access. Both book up and prices rise for the fair week, so reserve months ahead.Can I visit the silleteros in Santa Elena before the parade?
Yes. Santa Elena is about an hour from the city, and in the days before the parade some flower-growing families open their fincas to visitors and show how a silleta is built. Going with a local who knows a family is the easiest way in.
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