Colombia has a large number of unique and wonderful cultural events, which take place yearly all over the country. Many of these events are once in a lifetime experiences which shouldn’t be missed while working in Colombia. Here are ten of the biggest and best events:
Barranquilla Carnival (Carnaval de Barranquilla)
Where: Barranquilla
When: The carnival begins every year on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday.
What: The Barranquilla Carnival takes over the city of Barranquilla for four days and is a celebration of culture, music and heritage that dates back to the early 19th century and is a celebration of culture, music and heritage. The carnival is a must visit, when working in Colombia, for the experience of a unique taste of the Caribbean culture. These four days are packed with parades, music, dancing, costumes, and partying. The Barranquilla carnival is the world’s second biggest carnival (after Rio) and is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event.
Black and White Festival Pasto (Carnaval de Negros y Blancos)
Where: Pasto
When: Every year 2nd and 7th January
What: The Black and White Carnival is held every year in Pasto, and is the largest carnival in the South of the country. The celebrations involve costumes, parades and events to celebrate and express imagination, play, friendship and the sharing of joy. This event is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event. The Black and White festival is a unique and wonderful experience everyone must have while working in Colombia.
Bogota’s Summer Festival (Festival de Verano de Bogota)
Where: Parque Simon Bolivar, Bogota
When: Every year in August
What: Bogota’s summer festival has taken place in the city every year since its establishment in 1997. The festival boasts over 300 activities which take place in the park and surrounding areas every August for 9 or 10 days. This free event has a large number of sporting activities, shows, concerts, and classes which make for perfect weekend activities while working in Colombia or Bogota.
Bogota’s Jazz Festival (Jazz el Parque)
Where: El Parque el Country, Bogota
When: Every Year in Mid September
What: Jazz el Parque is a free International jazz festival which takes place every year over a weekend in mid September. The 2 day long festival attracts jazz artists from all over the world, and visitors from all over Bogota who come to listen to jazz music and relax in the park with friends and family. This festival is a great free outdoor festival to experience and relax at while working in Colombia.
Rock in the Park (Rock el Parque)
Where: Parque Simon Bolivar, Bogota
When: Every Year in Early July
What: Rock el Parque is Latin America’s and Colombia’s largest free rock concert, which has been running every year since 1995. This festival of rock attracts artists and visitors from all over the country and world to listen to a variety of rock genres for free. Every year the festival attracts over 50 artists from all over the globe to celebrate rock and is a great event to visit while working in Colombia.
ArtBo
Where: Corferias, Bogota
When: Every Year in October
What: ArtBo is an art fair which showcases national and international art galleries. The fair is a chance for the public to enjoy and purchase art and it attracts visitors from all over the country and Latin America. The fair is a unique place to experience famous and up and coming artworks produced by a number of artists from Latin America. The ArtBo event is the perfect place to view art from all over Latin America while working in Colombia.
Cali Fair (La Feria de Cali)
Where: Cali, Colombia
When: Every Year between December 25th and 30th
What: The Cali Fair is the region’s most important cultural event as it celebrates the region’s culture and identity through dance parties and salsa. The fair has been taking place in the city since 1957 and it promotes cultural, ethical and musical diversity within the region and city. Salsa takes over the city during the fair with events and dancing in the streets. The Cali Fair is a great way to experience the salsa capital of the world.
Medellin Flower Festival (Feria de las Flores)
Where: Medellin
When: Every Year late July to August
What: The Feria de las Flores is the most important event in Medellin and celebrates the flowers grown in the region, Virgin Mary Day and the end of slavery. The festival has taken place in the city every year since 1957 and it’s a week long festival filled with parades, events, concerts, fireworks and celebrations. The Medellin Flower Festival is a must visit when working in Colombia as it allows you to experience the history of the region and view the amazing flower displays that locals carry on their backs during the parades.
Alimentarte
Where: El Parque Virrey, Bogota
When: Over two weekends in August
What: Alimentarte is Bogota’s largest food festival and showcases over 200 food stalls from Colombia and all over the world. The festival takes place over two weekends in Parque Virrey, Bogota. The festival allows visitors to sample foods and enjoy visiting the park with family and friends. Each year the festival has a different theme and invites international restaurants to showcase their food and culture to the people of Bogota. Alimentarte is a great way to sample traditional, local or international foods while working in Colombia.
Expoartesanias
Where: Corferias, Bogota
When: For two weeks in December
What: Expoartesanias is an art festival held every year in December. The event showcases art, food and products from different regions in Colombia and South America. The festival is a good place to discover and purchase handcrafted Colombian products, sample foods and experience the cultures of different regions. Expoartesanias is an ideal event to discover Colombian products and purchase handcrafted items, while working in Colombia.
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Written by: Anny Wooldridge