Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga announced plans for the festival, including 21 musical stages distributed across the city’s 16 communes and five corregimientos, all offering free admission. The Alcaldía de Medellín (Mayor’s Office of Medellín) has allocated $336 million COP (approximately $81,000 USD) for the renewal of attire for 535 silleteros and silleteras—flower farmers who carry elaborate floral arrangements. This update marks the first such renewal since 2017. The new attire includes trousers and shirts for men, and skirts and blouses for women, along with traditional accessories such as cotizas (sandals), paruma (wrap-around skirt), aprons, hats, and scarves.

Mayor Gutiérrez stated that the Feria de las Flores remains a public event, with over 110 activities organized by the Mayor’s Office. He emphasized the role of the silleteros as central to the festival, representing the region’s values and customs. Both adult and child silleteros are expected to debut new uniforms.

Above photo of Medellín’s “Feria de las Flores” (Flower Festival) courtesy of Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Under the theme “Medellín Te quiere celebrando lo que somos” (Medellín Loves You, Celebrating Who We Are), the program includes five parades. These are the second edition of Avenida Primavera, the Classic and Antique Cars Parade, the Chivas and Flowers Parade, and the Heroes of the Homeland Parade.

The 68th edition of the Iconic Silleteros Parade will feature 535 silleteros and silleteras, including five children with neurodiversity. Martín Atehortúa, a silletero from Santa Elena and president of the Corporación de Silleteros de Santa Elena (Cosse), acknowledged the inclusion efforts, noting it as an advance for equality. The parade is scheduled for Sunday, August 10. On this day, which marks the close of the Feria de las Flores, each silletero will wear a black ribbon in honor of victims of winter weather in the metropolitan area and nationwide.

The District Administration will provide 44 grandstands with a total capacity of 22,000 people per parade, each accommodating 500 attendees. Over 50% of these spaces will be open to the public without charge to ensure broader access. A specialized module with a capacity for 50 individuals with reduced mobility will also be available. The remaining grandstand spaces will be managed by the Greater Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau for commercialization among festival sponsors and tourism operators.

Throughout the 10-day festival, musical stages will return with artistic programming in each of the 16 communes and five corregimientos, aiming to decentralize the event’s reach. Attendance at these stages is projected to range from 10,000 to 40,000 attendees per stage.

The inaugural concert is scheduled for Friday, August 1, in the Obelisco sector, featuring artists such as Jorge Celedón, Fernando González, and Jessi Uribe. Additionally, the Parque Cultural Nocturno (Night Cultural Park) will take place at Plaza Gardel, offering high-level performances. The program includes Colombian, Afro, and bolero music, along with a tribute to the 50th anniversary of El Combo de las Estrellas.

The 19th edition of the National Trova Festival Ciudad de Medellín will hold its semifinal rounds on August 1 and 2 at the Parque de los Deseos. The grand final for the Rey or Reina de la Trova (King or Queen of Trova) will be on Friday, August 8, at Plaza Gardel.

Other scheduled activities include the Silleteritos Parade and Sancochos Festival in Santa Elena, the La Floresta Silleteritos Parade, the Feria al Ritmo de Bici (Fair to the Rhythm of Bike) Parade, the Canine and Pet Walk, Plazas de las Flores (Flower Plazas), Fondas de Mi Tierra (My Land’s Inns) at Aeroparque Juan Pablo II, and “Florecer: orquídeas, naturaleza y tradiciones” (To Blossom: Orchids, Nature, and Traditions) at the Jardín Botánico de Medellín.

Mauricio Londoño, president of the Corporación de Silleteros de Santa Elena (Cosse), noted that grandstand ticket sales for 2025 will include the experience of visiting a silletera farm, aiming to increase visibility for these farms and allow visitors to experience them firsthand.

Migración Colombia projects that between 55,000 and 60,000 international passengers will arrive during the Feria de las Flores 2025, with at least 55% being foreign visitors and non-resident Colombians. Terminales Medellín estimates that land transport passenger arrivals will range between 250,000 and 260,000 people. Cotelco, the Colombian Hotel and Tourism Association, forecasts hotel occupancy rates between 77.0% and 81.0%, indicating an upward trend.

Medellín’s Féria de las Flores. Photo credit: Loren Moss

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga reaffirms his commitment to the silleteros and silleteras. In this way, 535 of them will update their wardrobe, marking a significant change not seen since 2017. This year, the updated attire includes pants and shirts for men, skirts and blouses for women, as well as traditional accessories such as the cotizas, the paruma, the apron, the hat, and the kerchief. The investment was $336 million USD.

Under the slogan “Medellín loves you, celebrating what we are,” the program invites attendees to enjoy five major parades. Among them are the 2nd edition of Avenida Primavera and the Classic and Antique Car Parades, the Chivas and Flores Parades, and the Heroes of the Nation Parade. For its part, the iconic Silleteros Parade celebrates its 68th edition this year and will feature 535 silleteros and silleteras marching, including five children with neurodiversity.

The event will take place on Sunday, August 10, the day that marks the end of the Flower Festival. Each participant will wear a black ribbon in honor of the victims of the winter storm in the metropolitan area and throughout the country. The district administration will set up 44 grandstands with a total capacity of 22,000 people per parade, each with a capacity for 500 attendees. More than 50% of these spaces will be open to the public, ensuring greater inclusion.

In addition, a special space with capacity for 50 people with reduced mobility will once again be available. The remaining grandstands will be marketed by the bureau to flower fair sponsors and tour operators. During the 10 days, musical stages will return with artistic programming in each of the 16 communes and five districts, a way to decentralize this event. These spaces are expected to have an approximate audience of between 10,000 and 40,000 attendees per stage. On the other hand, the inaugural concert will take place on Friday, August 1st, in the Obelisco area, with renowned artists who will be adding to the evening’s musical program, such as Jorge Celedón, Fernando González, and Jessi Uribe, among others.

Also, the Parque Cultural Nocturno (Night Cultural Park) in Plaza Gardel will feature a program of high-level performances. Each night will be filled with Colombian, Afro-Colombian, and bolero music, as well as a very special moment to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Combo de las Estrellas. In addition, the Medellín National Trova Festival is now in its 19th year and will have its semifinals on August 1st and 2nd, in Parque de los Deseos.

The grand finale to select the King or Queen of Trova will be on Friday, August 8th, in Plaza Gardel. Other notable activities include: the Silleteritos Parade and Sancocho Festival in Santa Elena; the Silleteritos Parade in La Floresta; the Fair to the Rhythm of a Bike Parade; the Dog and Pet Walk; Flower Plazas; Fondas de Mi Tierra (My Land Feasts) at Juan Pablo II Airport; and Florecer: Orchids, Nature, and Traditions at the Botanical Garden; among other activities.

Finally, according to information from Colombian Immigration, between 55,000 and 60,000 international passengers are expected to arrive during the 2025 Flower Fair, of which at least 55% will be foreign visitors and non-resident Colombians.
Terminales Medellín estimates that land transportation passenger arrivals will range between 250,000 and 260,000. Furthermore, according to Cotelco, hotel occupancy could be between 77.0% and 81.0%, with an upward trend.

The schedule can be found at https://www.feriadelasfloresmedellin.gov.co/ or on the @cultura.med social media channels.

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga reaffirms his commitment to the silleteros and silleteras. In this way, 535 of them will update their wardrobe, marking a significant change not seen since 2017. This year, the updated attire includes pants and shirts for men, skirts, and blouses for women, as well as traditional accessories such as the cotizas, the paruma, the apron, the hat, and the kerchief. The investment was $336 million USD.

“Always remember that the Flower Fair is 100% public. The mayor’s activities are 100% public. There are more than 110 activities, and we will have the opportunity to be together again as a city. We will have our silleteros, who are the heart of this festival, who represent us, who represent those values, those customs. All our silleteros and the silleteros will wear new uniforms, all of them will wear new ones,” said Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga.

Under the slogan “Medellín loves you, celebrating what we are,” the program invites attendees to enjoy five major parades. Among them are the 2nd edition of Avenida Primavera and the Classic and Antique Car Parades, the Chivas and Flores Parades, and the Heroes of the Nation Parade. For its part, the iconic Silleteros Parade celebrates its 68th edition this year and will feature 535 silleteros and silleteras marching, including five children with neurodiversity.

“Every year, we are adding more people with this theme of equality, with these themes of resilience and hope. We have children with this condition in the event, and five of them will be in the parade. This is a great step forward for equality and inclusion,” said Martín Atehortúa, a silletero from Santa Elena, who thanked the district for its willingness to ensure the well-being of the parade participants.

Medellín’s “Feria de las Flores” (Flower Festival) courtesy of Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The event will take place on Sunday, August 10, the day that marks the end of the Flower Festival. Each participant will wear a black ribbon in honor of the victims of the winter storm in the metropolitan area and throughout the country. The district administration will set up 44 grandstands with a total capacity of 22,000 people per parade, each with a capacity for 500 attendees. More than 50% of these spaces will be open to the public, ensuring greater inclusion.

In addition, a special space with a capacity for 50 people with reduced mobility will once again be available. The remaining grandstands will be marketed by the bureau to flower fair sponsors and tour operators. During the 10 days, musical stages will return with artistic programming in each of the 16 communes and five districts, a way to decentralize this event. These spaces are expected to have an approximate audience of between 10,000 and 40,000 attendees per stage. On the other hand, the inaugural concert will take place on Friday, August 1st, in the Obelisco area, with renowned artists who will be adding to the evening’s musical program, such as Jorge Celedón, Fernando González, and Jessi Uribe, among others.

Also, the Parque Cultural Nocturno (Night Cultural Park) in Plaza Gardel will feature a program of high-level performances. Each night will be filled with Colombian, Afro-Colombian, and bolero music, as well as a very special moment to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Combo de las Estrellas. In addition, the Medellín National Trova Festival is now in its 19th year and will have its semifinals on August 1st and 2nd, in Parque de los Deseos.

The grand finale to select the King or Queen of Trova will be on Friday, August 8th, in Plaza Gardel. Other notable activities include: the Silleteritos Parade and Sancocho Festival in Santa Elena; the Silleteritos Parade in La Floresta; the Fair to the Rhythm of a Bike Parade; the Dog and Pet Walk; Flower Plazas; Fondas de Mi Tierra (My Land Feasts) at Juan Pablo II Airport; and Florecer: Orchids, Nature, and Traditions at the Botanical Garden; among other activities.

“We’re not just at the fair, we’re here all year round. In 2025, the sold-out stands will have the experience of visiting a silletero farm, to raise their profile and allow visitors to learn about them. We’re on the right track, and the silleteros are happy to be able to parade this year,” added Mauricio Londoño, president of the Santa Elena Silleteros Corporation (Cosse).

Finally, according to information from Colombian Immigration, between 55,000 and 60,000 international passengers are expected to arrive during the 2025 Flower Fair, of which at least 55% will be foreign visitors and non-resident Colombians.
Terminales Medellín estimates that land transportation passenger arrivals will range between 250,000 and 260,000. Furthermore, according to Cotelco, hotel occupancy could be between 77.0% and 81.0%, with an upward trend.

Above photo:Medellín’s Féria de las Flores. Photo credit: Loren Moss