January / February
Feria Taurina de la Candelaria / Bullfights in Medellin
Where: La Macarena Stadium
Saturday for six weeks with two special evening events.
Overview: Every year at the end of January and the beginning of February, Spain comes to Medellin, and the very best Matadors in the world come to show off their skills in the beautifully restored Macarana stadium.
Every afternoon for six Saturdays the party revolves around the Macarana stadium and spills over into the streets, bars and restaurants of the Zona Rosa. The city is filled with spectators from all over the world and many places put on special events during the festival.
March / April
Semana Santa (Easter /Holy Week)
Where: La Macarena Stadium
Saturday for six weeks with two special evening events.
Overview: The Holy Week of Easter is the most important Catholic religious festival in South America. Semana Santa, Holy Week, celebrates the last days of Christ's life, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, as well as the end of Lent. Semana Santa is observed with a range of celebrations, from the most solemnly religious, to a mix of pagan/Catholic, to commercial. There is a four day long weekend in Medellin so it's party time!!
July
ColombiaMODA
Where: Centro Internacional de Convenciones Plaza Mayor
Overview: Colombiamoda is the most important annual fashion event in South America, presenting around 450 Colombian and international exhibitors in the Centro Internacional de Convenciones Plaza Mayor in Medellín. Visitors are expected from all over Latin America, Europe, the United States and the Far East.
Colombiamoda, organised by fashion promoter Inexmoda, has taken place every year since 1990. This year there are products shown for men, women, teens and children in formal, casual, underwear, sportswear and swimwear, as well as supplies for fashion dealers, machinery and all the other services related to the sector. A host of related events take place alongside the fair, including daily catwalk shows.
July
The International Poetry Festival in Medellin
Where: The Universtiy of Antioquia - Along with many smaller open street venues
The rapid progression of the Festival's growth (which is directly related with the number and quality of the more than 747 participant poets representing 131 countries of the five continents, added to the great public attendance to all the Festival's acts) and by other side the consolidation of publications, poet's organizations and international poetry festivals in the world, can anticipate a bigger influence of poetry in human society.
August
The Flower Festival / La Feria de las Flores
Where: Throughout all of Medellín
Overview: The centre of Medellin bursts into flames of colour and a delicious bouquet of sweet smells during the Flower Fair, the city's most important cultural event.
Colombia is famous for its flowers and exports them all over the world. This annual celebration has been going strong since 1957 and is always held during the first two weeks in August.
December / January
The Festival of Christmas Lights / Las Alumbrados de Navidad
Where: Throughout all of Medellín
Overview: The Christmas lights decorating Medellin, make it the most beautiful Latin American city in South America over the Christmas holidays. The lights are illuminated from mid December to mid January. The most impressive parts are centered around the Rio Medellin at the 'puente de Guayaquil'. Large statues made of lights can be found throughout the city.
December
Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia Festival de Cinema
Where: Carrera 51 No. 52-03 Palacio de la Cultura, Of. 313
Tel: (57-4) 251 6888 Telefax: 513 3653 Medellín, Colombia
Telefax: (57-4) 853 3988 Santa Fe de Antioquia
Overview: For all you lovers of cinema there are two annual film festivals in the town of Santa Fe de Antioquia. Take a tour of this incredible town with its Colonial style architecture which has been preserved in time with its vertiable maze of cobbled stone streets. It features one of the world's first suspension bridges in all of Colombia.
