Update: Medellin’s 2020 ‘Silleteros’ Flower Parade Postponed to November 8

Because of the Covid-19 crisis, the Medellin Mayor’s Office announced July 18 that it has decided to postpone the 63rd annual ‘Desfile de los Silleteros” flower parade to November 8, rather than in August.

What’s more, all the usual “Feria de las Flores” events leading up to the parade — and the parade itself — will be “virtual” (broadcast on Telemedellin and internet apps) rather than attended by in-person massive audiences. The events are now scheduled to go forward from November 2 to November 8.

Because of the Coronavirus menace that otherwise would threaten the nearly 1 million people who normally crowd alongside the parade route, this year the  “silletero” flower carriers will parade by themselves.

Special precautions and biosafety protocols will protect the silleteros, the musicians, the dancers and artists that add life to the week-long event, according to Medellin Secretary of Culture Lina Gaviria Hurtado.

As in every edition of the annual Silleteros Parade, a panel of judges will view each flower creation and present awards for the various design categories. After that, the silleteros and their flower creations will be transported to central Medellin for the flower parade, the Mayor’s Office added.