Cultural, musical, or religious, there’s something for every taste! Being a Salsa fan, I love the incredible vibe in Cali in September and at the end of the year. Around Medellín in August? Don’t miss the Feria de las Flores. It’s spectacular.
Want to experience a lively carnival? Head to Barranquilla in February-March. A cinema enthusiast? Attend free outdoor screenings in Cartagena de Indias in March.
So, let’s pick your next Colombia festival!
Best festivals in Colombia: January
Pasto, Riosucio and Manizales.
1# Carnaval de blancos y negros, Pasto
This is one of the first and most important festivals of the year. It’s also one of the oldest street celebrations in Colombia. Don’t miss enjoying this huge party, which Unesco has declared a World Heritage Site for its vibrant colors, the number of people involved, and the messages it conveys.
The black-and-white carnival occurs in Pasto (south) streets, the capital of the Nariño department. During the six days it lasts, you will see famous-character-inspired parades, listen to music, see dances, and get tons of water splashes and flour that everyone throws at each other, like in no other festival.
The last two days are the most important. All the participants, whatever their ethnicity, wear black makeup on the first day and white powder on the second to symbolize equality and unite all citizens in a joint celebration of ethnic and cultural differences.
- Where: San Juan de Pasto, Nariño
- When: First week of January. Typically, between 2 and 7
- Number of days: 6
- Type: Cultural
- More information: https://carnavaldepasto.org/
2# Carnaval de Riosucio – Carnaval del Diablo
This Colombian festival, one of the oldest, has taken place every odd year in the town of Riosucio, Caldas department (Coffee region), since 1911. It commemorates the return of peace to the city after years of war between the foe municipalities of Quiebralomo and La Montaña.
For five nonstop days—and for free—you will be immersed in shawms, dances, crews, costumes, and plenty of chicha drinking (an ancient fermented drink made of corn).
The devil in the Riosucio carnival is the figure around which the festival revolves. Rather than being a Satanic ritual or the devil depicted by the Catholic Church, it represents concepts associated with life, joy, friendship, satire, and ridicule.
The devil’s reign is the excuse to break everyday life and create music, poetry, and dance. Las Cuadrillas is one of the main events. It consists of groups of people wearing costumes that go to different houses while dancing, singing, and drinking “guarapo,” a refreshing fermented drink made of pineapple skin and brown sugar.
- Where: Riosucio, Caldas
- When: First week of January. Usually, from 6 to 11
- Number of days: 5
- Type: Cultural
- More information: www.senalmemoria.co/articulos/carnaval-de-riosucio-cultura-caldas
3# Feria de Manizales
This annual festival is a beautiful, inclusive, and democratic celebration in which most of its events are free of charge.
This festival, which began in 1955, was inspired by the Spanish fair of Seville, and for this reason, you can still see a mini bullfighting season.
A traditional carnival event is the international coffee contest, in which women from most of Colombia’s departments and countries participate.
But the events that attract the most attention among locals and tourists are the fireworks that are launched in the middle of the week at the City Stadium; and the parade of Yipaos – jeeps loaded with bundles of coffee and other items typical of the countryside culture, which make stunts while parading down Santander Avenue. An event that you will surely enjoy!
- Where: Manizales, Caldas
- When: 2nd week of January.
- Number of days: 7
- Type: Cultural
- More information: Instagram
Best festivals in Colombia: February
Cartagena.
4# Hay Festival, Cartagena
This international festival is one of Latin America’s most important cultural events.
This festival is for art lovers: renowned plastic artists, musicians, and intellectuals are always present. The topics during the event are related to literature, movies, visual arts, environment, music, politics, and journalism.
Some events are held in theaters, outdoors, and on the streets (free).
The Hay Festival showcases some of the best Latin American and world literature. You can visit exhibits and participate in workshops, conferences, and plays.
- Where: Cartagena, Bolivar
- When: Between the end of January and early February
- Number of days: More than one week
- Type: Cultural – Literary
- More information: https://www.hayfestival.com/cartagena/inicio
Best festivals in Colombia: March
Barranquilla, Cartagena, Ibagué and Popayan.
5# Carnaval de Barranquilla
The Barranquilla Carnival is the second-largest street carnival in the world, only behind the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.
This is a mix of cultures, exhibits, parades, costumes, partying, drinking, and getting to know the culture of the Colombians from the Caribbean coast.
UNESCO has named the carnival an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It’s more than a century old and originates from pagan rituals in Spain, always with a spirit of renewal and change.
Events such as Batalla de Flores (Flowers Battle) are among the most colorful and important of the Barranquilla carnival, and it will definitely be an unforgettable experience. This is a grand parade with hundreds of dancers wearing attractive costumes. You can see it in the streets, free of charge.
If you plan to go, I recommend booking hotels months in advance.
- Where: Barranquilla, Atlántico
- When: February or March, 4 days before Ash Wednesday
- Number of days: 4 days
- Type: Cultural
- More information: https://www.carnavaldebarranquilla.org/
6# Festival Internacional de Cine de Cartagena
This is the oldest film festival in South America. This great festival gathers 58 guests and 58 juries. It started in 1960 to disseminate cultural, communications, and technical services in the cinematographic field and the audiovisual arts.
Thus far, the festival has screened over 5,000 movie pictures from Colombia, Spain, and Latin America. This is a means of launching new directors, actors, and producers.
During the festivals, you will have the chance to watch movies in outdoor spaces free of charge.
- Where: Cartagena
- When: March
- Number of days: 6 days
- Type: Cultural
- More information: http://ficcifestival.com/
7# Festival Nacional de Música Colombiana
This major cultural event, held in Colombia’s music capital, Ibague, Tolima, gathers more than 700 artists from all over the national territory.
If you go to Ibague during those days of March, you’ll experience live music in every corner of the city. This festival, full of contests, concerts, and live presentations, has been held for 36 years.
The festival’s music ranges from the rich rhythms of the Andes mountains, which use guitars and “tiples” (12-string guitars), to percussion.
There are concerts and presentations during the festival, many free of charge.
- Where: Ibague, Tolima
- When: March
- Number of days: one week
- Type: Cultural
- More information: https://www.fundacionmusicaldecolombia.org
8# Semana Santa in Popayán
Colombia is still mainly a Catholic country. These religious traditions are very much alive in Popayan, Cauca (southwest). One of the examples is Holy Week, a celebration since 1566.
UNESCO declared its processions a Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009, and they gathered thousands of people, not only those with Catholic beliefs.
Many volunteers will participate in this important event, carrying figures that represent the passion of Christ on a litter. You can also visit the city’s many colonial churches and cathedrals, which is like going back 500 years in time.
Apart from the processions, you will hear choirs and religious music in the churches, where you don’t have to pay to enter. There is a religious music festival, too.
From Tuesday to Saturday before Easter, five processions are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, the Holy Cross, the Holy Burial, and the Resurrection. These Catholic belief events take place between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
- Where: Popayán, Cauca
- When: Holy Week (end of March or beginning of April)
- Number of days: 5 days
- Type: Religious
- More information: https://www.juntasemanasantapopayan.org
Best festivals in Colombia: April
Bogota and Valledupar.
9# Estereo Picnic, Bogota
The Estereo Picnic Festival is a Colombian version of America’s Lollapalooza. This is a series of live concerts with national and international bands.
Even though the entrance is not free, the prices are very affordable. Access to the whole three days of the festival, to see tens of music bands play, is about 30 USD.
The new venue for the show is located about one hour north of Bogota, near the towns of Briceño and Sopo.
Over the years, some of the bands that have played are Guns N’ Roses, The Strokes, Martin Garrix, The XX, The Weeknd, Wiz Khalifa, Arctic Monkeys, Sam Smith, Depeche Mode, Kendrick Lamar, Twenty One Pilots, Interpol, Gorillaz, The Killers, and Lana del Rey.
The atmosphere is very relaxed, and you can enjoy being in the open while listening to your favorite bands.
- Where: Bogota, Club de Golf Briceño
- When: Usually March or April
- Number of days: 3 days
- Type: Musical
- More information: https://www.festivalestereopicnic.com/#/
10# Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata
This Vallenato legend festival is the most important for vallenato music—Colombian rhythm played with accordion, drums, “guacharaca” and sometimes a guitar. Singers used the original Vallenato lyrics to depict real-life stories, poetry, and myths. Later, it became a more romantic type.
Since the first festival, in 1968, it has been held in Valledupar, department of Cesar, a very green and hot Colombian city in the north of the country.
If you visit during the vallenato festival, you can enjoy live concerts in the main square or see the “parrandas vallenatas,” a sort of private parties in residences where musicians play day and night, and where you get to drink a lot of room-temperature Scotch whisky, which has also turned into a tradition.
The festival also includes a formal contest to elect the king of Vallenato. You will be amazed at the accordion players’ dexterity and the singers’ magnificent voices.
- Where: Valledupar, Cesar
- When: End of April
- Number of days: 5 days
- Type: Musical – Cultural
More information: https://festivalvallenato.com
Best festivals in Colombia: May
Medellin and Bogota.
11# Expoartesano, Medellín
This handicraft fair gathers artisans from all over the country at the Plaza Mayor Convention and Exhibition Center in Medellin. Artesanías de Colombia, a government entity, sponsors the event. It’s considered one of the most important legacies of Colombian traditions.
For 10 days, more than 450 exhibitors showcase their work: hats, handbags, kitchen utensils, baskets, garments, and other articles are some of the things you can see and buy.
In addition to selling handicrafts, the organizers offer workshops, classes, and conferences on different cultures that are part of Colombian heritage.
As a visitor, you can experience body painting, indigenous-people-inspired fashion, hairdos, knitting, and other forms of cultural expression.
- Where: Medellin, Plaza Mayor
- When: Second and third week of May
- Number of days: 10 days
- Type: Musical – Cultural
- More information: https://www.expoartesano.com.co
12# Baum FestivaL, bogota
This is by far the most relevant electronic music festival in the country. It gathers more than 40,000 attendees in Corferias, a unique venue in the heart of Bogota.
The festival started in 2015 and has since been held every year. There you can see international representatives of this genre, such as Boris Brejcha, Miss Kittin, Dj Hell, Ellen Allien, Dubfire, Anja Schneider, Claptone, Juan Atkins, The Blessed Madonna, and Loco Dice.
Like any music festival, the Baum offers five stages at the same time, being the most important one the Heineken Stage. The festival lasts two days of heart-beating sensations. It usually takes place on a given Friday and Saturday in May.
- Where: Bogota, Corferias
- When: May
- Number of days: 2 days
- Type: Musical
- More information: https://www.instagram.com/baumfestival/?hl=es
Best festivals in Colombia: June
Neiva and Villaviencio.
13# Festival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco
The religious holiday of Saint Peter in Colombia, at the end of June, turns into a real carnival in the city of Neiva, where the music festival and the beauty pageant take place.
The event hosts colorful parades, shows, musical expressions, dance groups, and music bands on every corner and bar, so you shouldn’t miss the chance to enjoy the festival and the warm weather of this beautiful green city.
As a visitor, you’ll learn more about Colombian folk through the dances to the rhythms of fandanguillo, sanjuanero, bambuco, and other oral traditions.
The contest crowns the beauty queen of Bambuco, who does not only have to look magnificent but also must show her dance skills.
During the festivities, don’t hesitate to try the typical Huila cuisine, with “asado huilense” (a kind of pork barbecue served on banana tree leaves) watered down with “chicha” and “guarapo,” two typical Colombian fermented beverages.
- Where: Neiva, Huila
- When: Mid-June to the beginning of July
- Number of days: About 13 days
- Type: Musical – Cultural
More information: https://corposanpedro.org/
