Major Events & Festivals in Barranquilla, Colombia

1. Carnaval de Barranquilla

A vibrant and colorful festival celebrating Colombia's rich culture and African roots, featuring elaborate parades, music, and dance.

Unique Costumes: Each year, over 400,000 participants create unique costumes, showcasing the diversity of Colombian culture.
Food and Drink: Visitors can sample traditional Colombian cuisine, including arepa con hogao, cazuela, and aguardiente.
Community Engagement: The Carnaval is a collaborative effort between local communities, artists, and businesses.

An annual tribute to Barranquilla's Afro-Colombian heritage, featuring music, dance, and traditional cuisine.

Community Celebration: The festival brings together members of the local Afro-Colombian community to celebrate their history and culture.
Music and Dance: Visitors can enjoy live music performances, including palo de agua, mapale, and cumbia.
Legend of the Black Virgin: The festival centers around a legendary story of a black virgin who protected Barranquilla from a cholera outbreak.

A celebration marking the start of Carnaval de Barranquilla, featuring a miniature replica of the city's church illuminated with candles.

Historical Significance: The festival has been held since 1870, symbolizing the unity and faith of Barranquilla's people.
Community Participation: Local families build and decorate small replicas of the church, creating a sense of community pride.
Light and Color: The festival creates a magical atmosphere with thousands of candles illuminating the streets.

A celebration of Barranquilla's connection to the mighty Magdalena River, featuring music, dance, and boat races.

River Activities: Visitors can enjoy boat races, water skiing, and river tours during the festival.
Cultural Exchange: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange between local communities and visitors.
Environmental Awareness: The festival also raises awareness about the importance of preserving the Magdalena River.

A celebration of the flower industry and banana production in Barranquilla's surrounding region.

Floral Displays: Visitors can admire beautiful floral arrangements, including orchids, roses, and carnations.
Banana Exhibitions: Exhibits showcase the history, cultivation, and processing of bananas in the region.
Parades and Music: The festival includes parades featuring local musicians, dancers, and floats decorated with flowers.

A seafood festival celebrating the local fish, mojarra, and other coastal delicacies.

Seafood Tasting: Visitors can sample a variety of dishes featuring mojarra, including fritanga and enchilado.
Local Artisans: Artisans showcase their handmade crafts, such as jewelry, textiles, and pottery.
Coastal Activities: The festival offers activities like boat tours, fishing trips, and beach games.

A shooting competition featuring women from Barranquilla and the surrounding region.

Gender Empowerment: The festival empowers women by showcasing their skills and promoting gender equality.
Sportsmanship: Competitors demonstrate their precision, speed, and sportsmanship in a friendly atmosphere.
Local Culture: The festival also features traditional music, dance, and food.

A festival celebrating the beauty of Barranquilla's flora and fauna, with a focus on marine life.

Marine Education: The festival raises awareness about marine conservation and local ecosystems.
Floral Displays: Visitors can admire beautiful floral arrangements, including orchids, roses, and carnations.
Coastal Activities: The festival offers activities like boat tours, snorkeling, and beach games.

A festival celebrating Barranquilla's palm and sugarcane industries, with traditional music, dance, and food.

Industrial Celebration: The festival honors the hard work and contributions of workers in Barranquilla's palm and sugarcane industries.
Food and Drink: Visitors can sample traditional dishes made with palm and sugarcane, such as arepa de chontaduro y hornoasado.
Music and Dance: The festival features live music performances, including palo de agua, mapale, and cumbia.

A festival dedicated to the traditional Colombian instrument, the marimba, featuring live performances and workshops.

Music Education: The festival offers workshops for both beginners and experienced musicians.
Cultural Exchange: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange between local communities and visitors.
Marimba Performances: Visitors can enjoy live performances by local and international marimba artists.

A festival celebrating the traditional Colombian instrument, the gaita zampoña, featuring live performances and workshops.

Music Education: The festival offers workshops for both beginners and experienced musicians.
Cultural Exchange: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange between local communities and visitors.
Gaita Zampoña Performances: Visitors can enjoy live performances by local and international gaita zampoña artists.

A cultural festival celebrating Barranquilla's coastal neighborhood of Bocachica, featuring music, dance, and traditional food.

Neighborhood Celebration: The festival highlights the unique history, culture, and cuisine of Barranquilla's Bocachica neighborhood.
Food and Drink: Visitors can sample traditional dishes from the region, including seafood, coconut rice, and empanadas.
Music and Dance: The festival features live music performances, including salsa, merengue, and bachata.

A festival celebrating the traditional Colombian music genre, vallenato, featuring live performances and workshops.

Music Education: The festival offers workshops for both beginners and experienced musicians.
Cultural Exchange: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange between local communities and visitors.
Vallenato Performances: Visitors can enjoy live performances by local and international vallenato artists.

A festival celebrating the traditional Colombian music genre, cumbia, featuring live performances and workshops.

Music Education: The festival offers workshops for both beginners and experienced musicians.
Cultural Exchange: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange between local communities and visitors.
Cumbia Performances: Visitors can enjoy live performances by local and international cumbia artists.

A festival celebrating the popular Latin dance genre, salsa, featuring live performances and workshops.

Dance Education: The festival offers workshops for both beginners and experienced dancers.
Cultural Exchange: The festival provides an opportunity for cultural exchange between local communities and visitors.
Salsa Performances: Visitors can enjoy live performances by local and international salsa artists.