Easily the most important festival in Medellin, La Feria de las Flores combines horse riding, vintage car parades, flower-decorating and copious alcohol consumption.
A politically-themed 'Silleta' on display during the Flower Parade
It's a week long affair taking place annuallyin August, a month inwhich Medellin typically basks in beautiful weather.
Cabalgata (Horse Parade)
On the first weekend the Cabalgata (Horse Parade) is held. A huge stretch of the Medellin's main highway is cordoned off along which hundreds of horses are paraded, although it often seems like the beautifully dressed up paisa girls mounted on the horses are the ones being paraded.
A young Paisa womanon horseback during the Cabalgata
That said, most people are too busy getting hammered to ponder the difference. The tipple of choice is a liquor known as aguardiente, an aniseed drink which I personally find repulsive, but is adored by huge numbers of Colombians and foreigners alike.
Being the friendly, generous bunch they are, random paisas will often thrust a shot of 'guaro' (as arguardiente is often called) in your direction. Resistance is futile.
Due to its immense popularity, theCabalgata can be a good place to spot famous people.Faustino 'El Tino' Asprillatakes part in the parade every year among many other Colombian celebrities.
Colombian football legend 'El Tino' Asprillatakes a phone call duringthe Cabalgata
Antique Car Parade
Another of the popular parades in the Desfile de Carros Antiguos (Antique Car Parade). The route of this parade changes quite frequently, but usually takes place along one of the main roads through the west of the city, often along eitherCarrera 70 or 80.
The parade is not just for car lovers - the occupants dress up in extravagant costumes and the cars themselves are attractively and imaginatively decorated.
The festival continues throughout the week with various events such as concerts and shows being heldacross the city ofMedellin.
Along the parade routes and at other events, you can find many souvenirs typical of small towns in Antioquia such as hats and ponchos.
Typical hats on sale during the Feria de Las Flores
There are also plenty of food and drinkstandsoffering typical Colombianfood such as chuzos (meat on a skewer), chorizo (a typical sausage), andarepa (a corn pancake).
Alcoholis never in short supply as hoards of men and women drift through the crowds with coolers and ice-filled buckets with cans of chilled beer for sale.
A food stand selling typical fast food
Desfile de Silleteros (Parade of Flower-bearers)
The climax of the festival is the second and final weekend during which country folk known as 'silleteros' (flower-bearers being about the best translation I could come up with) carry huge decorative flower displays (silletas) down from a small town called Santa Elena up in the mountains, to Medellin city centre.
Even more astonishing than the beautiful decorations is the fact that they weigh an absolute ton and are often carried by elderly men and women.
A 'silletera' carrying a heavy flower decoration
The Silleteros Parade,Cabalgata, and pretty much all other events at the Feria de Las Flores,are extremely popular, so if you want to get a good vantage point (especially for the Silleteros parade) it's best toarrive early.
If you really want a good view at the Silleteros Parade try buying a ticket for one of the grandstandsalong the route. That way you can turn up whenever you like and still be guaranteed a great spot.
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