The 2018 Desfile de Silleteros (flower parade) took place on Sunday, August 12. This was the last day of the 2018 Feria de las Flores. This year was the 61st year of Desfile de Silleteros. The first one was held back in 1957.
The two biggest events at Feria de las Flores each year are the Desfile de Silleteros and Desfile de Autos Clasicos (Classic Car Parade).
Desfile de Silleteros is a unique parade where paisas of all ages carry flower displays known as silletas on their backs for hours. In the parade each year, the participants range from little kids to men and women in their 60s and even older.
The flower arrangements for Disfile de Silleteros each year are made in the nearby pueblo of Santa Elena. And they are entered in a competition in various categories.
This article has over 25 of my best photos from the 2018 Defile de Silleteros, which were chosen from the over 500 photos I took. Also, you can see our photos of the 2017 Desfile de Silleteros.
Monumental silletas from this year
History of Desfile de Silleteros
The tradition of silleteros has its roots back in the 19th century when people in the rural areas in Antioquia used these silletas (chair-like) devices to carry the sick and elderly.
Santa Elena flower growers were the first to use the silleta to carry flowers, vegetables and herbs to market in Medellín. And they used the silleta to take food and household items they bought in Medellín back to their homes.
The first Feria de las Flores, or flower festival, reportedly took place in Medellin in May 1957. It was organized by Arturo Uribe, a member of the Board of the Office of Development and Tourism. And the idea behind this event was to help promote the flower industry in Colombia.
The first festival lasted for five days with an exposition of flowers displayed in the Catedral Basílica Metropolitana. In addition, the first silleteros parade took place with about 40 men from Santa Elena carrying on their backs flower arrangements to the exposition site
The following year in 1958, the month of the festival was changed to August. This was done to celebrate the independence of Antioquia. Over the next 61 years, additional events were added to the festival, which increased the duration to the current 10 to 11 days.
Four of the top placing kid silleteros
2018 Desfile de Sileteros
There was a total of 510 silleteros in the 2018 Desfile de Sileteros, which is the same count as in 2017. This year there were 420 adults, 50 juniors and 40 kids who participated.
The silleteros had to walk 1.4 miles (2.3 km) in the flower parade carrying floral arrangements that can reportedly weigh up to 50 to 120 kilograms.
The Absolute Prize went for this silleta
The Absolute Prize for the best flower arrangement in the entire parade this year went to a monumental silleta by Jesús Orlando Grajales Atehortúa. He also won in the Monumental category.
Like past years, additional prizes were awarded in the Commercial, Traditional, Junior and Children’s categories. John Jairo Grajales Gómez won in the Traditional category, Huber Alberto Hincapié Roderíguez won the Artistic category and Diego Antonio Londoño Londoño won the Emblematic category.
Some of the original silleteros from the first parade in 1957
There were also several of the original silleteros from the first parade in 1957. They were near the beginning of the parade riding in several of the antique cars from the Desfile de Autos Clasicos that was on Saturday.
Feria de las Flores also is a popular time for foreigners to be visiting Medellín. Most of the foreigners visiting Medellín during this time of the year come for Feria de las Flores.
My Experience at the 2018 Desfile de Silleteros
In 2016 I was able to get a press pass to Desfile de Silleteros, which enabled me to get on the street with the parade. But this year for the 2018 Desfile de Silleteros (and also last year) I had no success, as press passes are becoming more difficult to get to the flower parade. This is due to an increasing number of press from around the world covering the flower parade.
Bleacher seats to watch the parade
So, this year I purchased a ticket for the bleachers just like last year. The bleacher tickets this year cost 99,000 pesos plus 12,000 pesos for delivery.
Fortunately, the bleachers provide some cover from the sun. And there was food and drinks being served in the bleachers.
The parade was scheduled to start at 2 pm, so I arrived by 11:30 am hoping to get a good seat in the bleachers. But I found the bleachers were almost full already. And a pre-parade started soon after I arrived with some party trucks and police, military and firefighter marchers plus bands and some horses.
Horses during the pre-parade that started at about noon
The flower parade didn’t start to arrive until after 2:30 pm, since I was near the end of the parade route. But it was worth the wait.
Photos From the 2018 Desfile de Silleteros
Here are an additional 22 photos from the 2018 Desfile de Silleteros (flower parade) this year.
Start of the 61st Desfile de Sileteros
Some of the junior sileteros
More of the junior sileteros
One of the finalists in the Traditional category
One of the Emblematic category of silletas
Another of the Emblematic category of silletas
More of the Emblematic category of silletas
The five top placing Traditional silletas
More adult silleteros with Traditional silletas
A monumental silleta from this year
Additional monumental silletas
Another monumental silleta
And another beautiful monumental silleta
Silletero carrying a monumental silleta
Silleteros carrying traditional silletas
One of many dancers in the parade
More of the dancers in the parade
One of the Emblematic silletas
Another Emblematic silleta
And another Emblematic silleta
Two of the Commerical silletas
Thumbs up from one of the silleteros
The Bottom Line: 2018 Desfile de Silleteros
This year was my ninth year to see Desfile de Silleteros. It’s the world-famous flower parade in Medellín that has grown over the past 61 years to become a 10-day festival this year – Feria de las Flores 2018.
During Feria de las Flores each year, Medellín comes alive as the city displays its proud heritage in the colors of its flowers that grow in and around the countryside.
During the 10-day festival this year there were hundreds of events but the flower parade is one of the two biggest. It’s definitely an event that shouldn’t be missed if you are in Medellín during this time.
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