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Every January the capital of Caldas is the scene of the Manizales Festival (Feria de Manizales), one of the most emblematic festivities in the country. Founded in 1955, this fair has become a symbol of coffee culture and a manifestation of local and national traditions.
Inspired by the April Festival in Seville, Spain, the Manizales Festival combines festive elements with a strong bullfighting, cultural and artistic component. One of the most notable events is the Bullfighting Season, which attracts internationally renowned bullfighters and fans from all over the country.
In addition, the festival offers a wide range of activities, such as float parades, troupes, open-air concerts, folkloric dance exhibitions and sports, and native games such as three-way billiard tournaments and ball cart races.
The International Coffee Queen is another of the central events, where women from different countries compete for the title, promoting coffee as the region's flagship product. This pageant is the third oldest international beauty reign in the world, after Miss World and Miss Universe.
The Manizales Festival (Feria de Manizales) is also a space for popular music, with concerts of genres such as salsa, vallenato and tropical music, as well as a meeting place for entrepreneurs from all over the country with different business and micro-business fairs.
This event not only enriches local culture, but also boosts tourism and revitalizes the economy, attracting thousands of visitors seeking to enjoy the warmth and festive atmosphere of the city.
