Flower enthusiasts rave about La Feria de las Flores. This marks the 62nd year for the annual celebration of flowers in Medellín, Colombia, set for August 2 through August 11, 2019.

More than 400 different events (some public, some private) are planned during the festival, including flower parades, classical car parades, music concerts, and an orchid exposition from August 6 to 11, 2019, in the Jardín Botánico.

The biggest event? The Desfile de Silleteros (the Flower Parade) starting at 2 p.m. August 11, 2019, along Avenida Guayabal. Silleteros is the term used for the farmers who make beautiful flower arrangements on a silleta (a chair-like contraption for carrying flowers on a person’s back). This parade is recognized as a cultural heritage of Colombia.

The first Feria de las Flores, or flower festival, took place in Medellín in May 1957 to celebrate the thriving flower business in the Medellín area. The Colombian flower industry is valued at more than $1 billion, and employs more than 130,000 workers across 60 municipalities in Colombia.

(Photos courtesy of Colombia Tourism)