The Barranquilla Carnival

The Carnival of Barranquilla is one of the most famous festivals in Colombia, as well as one of the world's largest carnivals. The carnival has a long history, dating back to the nineteenth century. Barranquilla decks itself out four days before Holy Week to welcome national and international tourists who will join the city's residents for four days of intense celebrations. Barranquilla's routine activities are put on hold during the carnival as the city comes alive with street dances, musical and masquerade parades. The Spanish palate, African Congo, and indigenous mico y micas are among the dances performed at the Barranquilla Carnival. Drums and wind ensembles are used to perform a variety of Colombian music forms, the most renowned of which being cumbia.

The Battle of the Flowers (La Batalla de Flores), which is considered one of the main activities, kicks off the Carnival on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. The Great Parade (La Gran Parada) is followed by an Orchestra Festival with the Caribbean and Latin bands on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday signifies the end of the carnival, proclaimed by the burial of Joselito Carnaval, who is mourned by everyone. The Carnival tagline in Barranquilla is "Those who live it, love it."

Colombia's National Congress declared the Barranquilla Carnival a National Cultural Masterpiece in 2002. It was also during Olga Lucia Rodriquez's Carnival Queen year that UNESCO recognized it one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003 in Paris.

Dates: End of February to march