Christmas time in Medellin, Colombia is a time of celebration and holiday spirit as the city begins to light up with amazing decorations. Citizens decorate their yards, balconies and homes with festive decor as everybody prepares for the month of December and its various celebrations. Another big highlight every December is when the city turns on the Christmas lights that they have been busy preparing the entire month of November. This event traditionally begins on the night of December 7th of every year, but varies from time to time depending on the weather, etc. These Christmas lights adorn the entire city and are setup along major thoroughfares, roads, parks and especially along the Medellin River. The concentration of Christmas lights along the Medellin River is truly a sight to be seen as millions of dollars are spent every year creating unique themes that are different from the previous season’s theme. Families come out to visit the Medellin River area as it comes alive with thousands of people who revel in the fantastic array of colors and designs that make up the area. There are vendors selling everything from cotton candy, fast foods, beverages of every sort and flavor as well as street performers who come out to entertain the crowds that include tourists who flock to the city to see the sites and more than 500 different activities and 80 events that take place throughout the entire month.
More than two kilometers of the Medellin River is completely covered in explosive and sparkling colors that can average more than 15 million bulbs!
The public utility provider Empresas Publicas de Medellin or EPM for short is the sponsoring company each year that puts up the Christmas lights in Medellin. Their special website dedicated to Christmas lists all the various sponsored routes around town in which you can view the decorations as well as information about the special events that occur throughout the month. The site even has a countdown clock to Christmas day as well as videos and a gallery of photos from years past. The year 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of this special events and each year seems to become more dramatic that the year before.One thing is for certain is Medellin spares no expense when it come to filling the city with Christmas lights and festive events every year. If you have ever wanted to visit the City of Eternal Spring, the month of December is an excellent choice as tourists and visitors come from around the globe to witness the sights and sounds of Christmas in Medellin, Colombia.
Photos of Christmas Lights in Medellin, Colombia:
