President Abelardo De la Espriella will make his first official visit to Medellín as president during the Silleteros Parade, marking the end of the Flower Festival. The event is scheduled for Sunday, August 9, 2026, with the president arriving in the afternoon after completing other commitments elsewhere in the country. According to local officials, De la Espriella will join the parade, which is one of the most iconic cultural traditions in Antioquian society. The visit comes shortly after De la Espriella took office, having been sworn in as president on Friday, August 7, 2026, in a ceremony held in Cali’s Santiago University Arena. This was the first presidential inauguration outside of Bogotá in Colombian history. The swearing-in ceremony included international delegations, members of Congress, and representatives of the High Courts. De la Espriella was accompanied by his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda, and their four children. This visit to Medellín represents De la Espriella’s first public engagement as president beyond the ceremonial protocols of his inauguration. It follows his participation in a series of meetings in other regions earlier in the day. Local authorities confirmed the schedule through statements made by Concejal Alejandro de Bedout, who spoke to the local television station Telemedellín. He stated that De la Espriella will arrive in Medellín between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., just in time to take part in the traditional parade. The 69th edition of the Silleteros Parade will see approximately 700 silleteros and silleteras from Santa Elena carrying floral displays known as silletas over a route spanning 2.4 kilometers. The parade begins at the Guayaquil Bridge and proceeds along Avenida Regional, the Parques del Río underground passage, San Juan Street, and Avenida del Ferrocarril, ending at Plaza Mayor in the La Alpujarra district. The event runs from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and includes the awarding of prizes in categories such as monumental and emblematic silletas, officially concluding the 2026 Flower Festival. During his visit, De la Espriella will be joined by Medellín’s mayor, Federico Gutiérrez, and Antioquia’s governor, Andrés Julián Rendón. The presence of high-level officials underscores the significance of the event, both culturally and politically. For De la Espriella, this marks his first opportunity to engage directly with a key region of the country, amid expectations surrounding the start of his presidency, which has emphasized promises of restoring public order and taking a firm stance against criminal structures. The Silleteros Parade is more than a cultural spectacle, it is a major economic driver for the city. The 2026 festival is set to generate around 17,200 direct and indirect jobs and contribute up to $240 billion to Medellín’s economy. The event also serves as a symbol of regional pride, rooted in the traditions of Santa Elena, where generations have preserved the craft of creating silletas. The parade is expected to draw thousands of residents and tourists, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of Antioquian identity. With De la Espriella’s attendance, the political spotlight will shift to a celebration that has long captivated the attention of millions. His participation signals a commitment to engaging with the diverse expressions of Colombian culture, even as his administration faces challenges related to security and governance. The event will serve as a platform for showcasing the resilience and creativity of the people of Antioquia, while also setting the stage for future interactions between the national government and regional communities.
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