Manizales Fair 2025 in Colombia

The Manizales Festival is held annually at the beginning of the new year after Cali’s Festival. During the festival, you can enjoy mixed Colombian, European, and Spanish traditions like bullfights, craft shows, folk music and orchestra concerts, and the International Coffee Pageant.

Manizales Fair Events

The highlight of the festival is a beauty pageant in which the ‘International Queen of Coffee’ is crowned. During the week there are lots of exhibitions and traditional performances of national folklore.

Quests can enjoy Festival Nacional de la Trova (contest the title of King of the Trova), tango festival, and 'Yipaos' Parade. In this must-see spectacle, Willys jeeps—loaded with coffee, bananas, and other traditional peasant goods—perform daring pirouettes on their rear wheels along Santander Avenue, one of Manizales' main thoroughfares.

History

Since 1955, the Manizales Fair has been an iconic celebration marking the start of the year for the people of Manizales, Colombia. Drawing inspiration from Spain's Feria de Sevilla, this event pays homage to bullfighting while celebrating the city’s rich cultural and artistic traditions. Renowned for its diversity, the festival features parades, music, traditional dances, and events that reflect its deep cultural roots. This vibrant week-long celebration is a cherished tradition that attracts locals and visitors alike.