Medellín Flower Fair 2025: experiences, rural tourism, and featured activities

On August 1st, the Medellín Flower Fair, one of the most important events in the Antioquia capital, began. For this edition, the city was preparing to host more than 200 public and private activities.

From the Santa Elena Mountains to the urban heart of Medellín, La Chiva de las Flores and El Duelo de la Feria are two immersive experiences that reflect the joy and identity of the region.

Until August 9, Medellín will be the starting point for a tour to Santa Elena, the heart of Antioquia's silletero scene. The Chiva de las Flores (Flower Chiva) is a full-day cultural immersion tour in which participants travel in a party-goat , enjoy a traditional breakfast and lunch, visit silletero farms, gardens, and butterfly farms, and participate in talks about silletero making, guided by the silletas' creators.

With live music, troubadours, and a fonda paisa (country fondue) included, this experience offers a direct connection to the soul of the event.

On August 6th, the Duelo de la Feria will be held at the La Macarena Events Center. This year's lineup is headed by Hebert Vargas, Yeison Jiménez, Charrito Negro, Jean Carlos Centeno, and Andrés Franco. The event expects to draw more than 11,000 spectators.

“The Flower Fair is a platform of enormous cultural value that projects Medellín as a host city for authentic experiences, where art, tourism, and community converge. Events like La Chiva de las Flores or El Duelo de la Feria not only boost the entertainment industry, they also stimulate local consumption and strengthen the social fabric through the celebration of our roots,” says Oskar Fajardo, spokesperson for the organizing committee.

Lokillo, Dálmata, El Social, and La Plaza de Wein have joined forces to launch a space where humor, music, tradition, and Colombian talent celebrate the best of this holiday.

The Old Parr Inn is authentically modernized, without losing its roots, its humor, or its popular soul. This is thanks to El Social, a place that since 1969 has been a meeting point for families, friends, and entire generations who know that tradition is served with flavor. The Old Parr Inn is located in the parking lot of the Éxito restaurant in El Poblado.

This inclusive space will be open to the public until August 10th with a cultural and musical program packed with unique experiences, concerts, unforgettable gatherings, and new ways to celebrate our heritage. There will also be a gastronomic offering that highlights the region's typical flavors, traditional games, and all the ingredients to make each evening unforgettable. Purchase your tickets for the Fonda Old Parr at: https://metroticket.com.co

According to Daniel Figueroa, commercial manager of Viajes Falabella Colombia, this year's Flower Fair saw a high volume of reservations from destinations such as Bogotá, which exceeded 65 percent, and Cali, with 20 percent of domestic reservations. Additionally, several Latin American countries stand out for their reservations to this city during this time, primarily from Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Ecuador.

The company also highlighted that the silleteros (silleteros) parade and the cavalcade are particularly popular with visitors. It also found that travelers stay between three and four days; 54 percent of the most booked trips are for couples and 27 percent for families with one or two children.

Although the fair is centered in Medellín, more and more travelers are choosing to extend their route to nearby towns, where the silletero tradition, peasant crafts, and cultural roots come to life in an authentic way.

According to the latest booking report from the Civitatis platform, there has been a 27 percent increase in searches for activities in destinations such as Santa Elena, Guatapé, and Jardín.

“Exploring beyond the point of arrival is a very strong trend among international tourists. This type of traveler, in addition to entertainment, seeks meaningful experiences, moments that generate connection and authenticity. Antioquia is the ideal destination for this purpose. Its range of activities allows you to experience the culture through everyday life, share with those who have inherited traditions , and discover landscapes that tell their own story. Added to all this is an additional value: it is the land of coffee, recognized worldwide for its flavor and identity,” explains María Carolina Padilla, Civitatis Country Manager.

Santa Elena: The silleteros parade is one of the most anticipated moments of the Flower Festival. From Avenida Regional, crossing the Soterrado del Río and Avenida del Ferrocarril, to Plaza Mayor, 535 peasants will parade through the city carrying silletas filled with stories and traditions. But the most profound narrative takes place in the mountains surrounding Medellín, in Santa Elena, where this peasant expression flourishes, declared an intangible cultural heritage of Colombia in 2003.

In this district, a tour is available only during the fair, a time when local families create their silletas (flower arrangements) that look like true works of art. During a visit to a local farm, guides teach you how to choose from more than 25 varieties of flowers and how to assemble the structure alongside artisans.

Guatapé : Although tours to this destination are in high demand year-round, during the fair season, interest in Guatapé grows even more due to the large influx of tourists visiting Medellín. This area, known for its landscapes and rural identity, becomes an ideal option for those looking to explore nearby destinations.

One of the most popular tours includes stops in towns like Marinilla, El Peñol, and Alto del Chocho, where travelers can enjoy typical products like local strawberries, pan bobo (bamboo bread) with chocolate, tree tomatoes with panela, and Antioquian fiambre (cold meats) served aboard a boat ride through the Peñol-Guatapé Dam. It also offers a tour of Guatapé's colorful downtown and a visit to the Piedra del Peñol (Peñol Rock), one of the natural icons of eastern Antioquia.

Jardín: The increase in bookings for the Jardín tour also reflects how the Flower Festival boosts rural tourism in the region. This destination, recognized as one of Colombia's most beautiful towns, attracts numerous visitors who take advantage of the season to discover its colorful architecture, history, and coffee-growing tradition.

The tour begins in Medellín and continues through towns such as Hispania and Andes , two important cities in the region surrounded by coffee farms and plantations. Once in Jardín, a stroll through its streets will allow you to discover sites such as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Casa de los Dulces, and the renowned Macanas coffee shop.

ANGIE RODRÍGUEZ - TRAVEL EDITORIAL - @ANGS0614