Colombia has multiple celebrations and festivals throughout the year, with a majority stemming from Roman Catholic religious traditions. Prominent examples of festivals include the Ibero-American Theater Festival, Barranquilla’s Carnival, Carnival of Blacks and Whites, Independence day on, Holy Week and Christmas.
The Bogotá Carnival – starting around August 6, in order to commemorate the founding of the city, is a combination of various cultural events including masquerades, dances, and parades, among others. Parallel to this, the Bogotá Summer Festival is held, in which there are different social, cultural and sporting events, mainly in the area near the Simon Bolivar Park
Rock at the park – is the second largest rock festival in Latinamerica, after Rock in Rio, held in October. Around 1000 rock bands have participated in this event; both local and international bands. Apocalyptica, Slipknot, Plastilina Mosh and Manu Chao have performed in Rock al Parque, among other internationally famous bands. The event is held annually in Simon Bolivar Park in Bogotá.
The Iberoamerican Theater Festival– It is held in Bogotá every two years and it is the biggest theater festival in the world. Shows from the five continents will be in Colombia at the opening of the X Iberoamerican Theater Festival of Bogota. For 17 days, Bogotá will be featuring “The World on the Stage” with the best of the scenic arts from over 45 countries. Classic, dance, avant-garde, circus, music and street theater productions will take place in auditoriums, parks, coliseums and streets of Bogota, as well as the bull-fighting ring and Corferias turned into a Theater City. The world most important companies and the most recognized directors will be attending with productions gathering all the contemporary tendencies of the scenic arts.
Carnival of Blacks and Whites – The event is held from January 4 to January 6 in Pasto. Its origins date back to the Spanish rule times when slaves were allowed to celebrate on 5th and their masters showed their approval on 6th by painting their faces black. On these days they either put grease or talcum powder on their faces.
Holy Week- In Christianity it is the last week before Easter. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday, and lasts from Palm Sunday (or in the East, Lazarus Saturday) until but not including Easter Sunday, as Easter Sunday is the first day of the new season of The Great Fifty Days. It commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ culminating in his crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Manizales Fair (Spanish: Feria de Manizales) – The fair is celebrated in the city of Manizales somewhere in the initial weeks of the year. Costume groups in fancy dress take over the city. A congeniality coffee queen is elected and bullfighting (Spanish:faenas) takes place.
Cali Fair- The fair held in Cali from December 25 to New Year’s Eve. It is famous for its Salsa marathon concerts attended by renown Salsa bands. There are horse riding parades, masquerades and dances groups.
The Flowers Fair- Held during August in the city of Medellín with its flowers parade and the main attraction called the Desfile de Silleteros.
