Medellín is a city that’s already known for being vibrant, but during the Christmas Lights Festival (Alumbrados Navideños) it practically explodes with colorful lights. While the city first hung public Christmas lights in 1851, the festival didn’t begin until 1955. This was when Medellín’s utility company was consolidated, and decided to coordinate with the press and the municipal government to start hanging brilliant Christmas lights throughout the city. Since then, the Christmas Lights Festival Medellín has become an international wonder, attracting tourists from all over the world to marvel at the impressive displays. The number of visitors varies, but the last few years have seen around four million tourists. Most of these are Colombians, but close to 100,000 will be international tourists. It’s one of the most popular Medellin tours of the year.
Christmas Lights Festival Medellín and the Empresas Publicas de Medellín (EPM)
This story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a key player in the festival, the EPM. They supply the energy to power the lights, sure, but that’s just the start of their involvement. This gigantic company is the main provider of energy for Antioquia (the region where Medellín is located), and they even meet nearly a quarter of Colombia’s demand for electricity. And guess where their headquarters are? That’s right – in Medellín.
This being the case, they’re heavily invested in ensuring the prosperity of their home turf. In addition to providing the power for Medellin’s Christmas Light Festival, they also orchestrate the entire thing.
Themes of the Christmas Lights Festival in Medellín
Between 1955 and 1996, the festival was mainly focused on the lights themselves. Starting in 1997, the EPM decided to start giving each year’s event its own name and theme. Every year would have a festival with a specific concept, rather than sticking with more generic decorations. The lights would still evoke the spirit of Christmas as much as ever, but they would also tell a story at the same time.
Most of the themes are about things that Colombians treasure: tradition, family, inclusion, nature/biodiversity, and so on. These themes have included topics like:
- The Magic of Christmas (1997)
- Medellín is Light (2002)
- Medellín, Lights of Fiesta (2005)
- Medellín, Source of Light (2009)
- Nature, Life, and Light (2012)
- In Christmas, Medellín is a Big Family (2016)
- Colombia, Magical Paradise of Christmas Light (2018)
In 2022, there was actually some controversy around the chosen theme for the year’s festival. This was the year after Disney’s Encanto was released, and many Colombians were thrilled at seeing their own culture depicted in a mainstream film. Apparently, some of those Colombians were at the EPM, because they decided to make Encanto the theme of the 2022 Christmas Lights Festival Medellín.
Some people were happy about the decision; after all, the movie had become something of a national treasure in Colombia. However, others felt that this would turn a Christmas festival into a Disney festival, since Encanto isn’t overtly Christmas-related. Critics also noted that the licensing fees would be exorbitant, at an estimated $1 million. The Encanto-themed festival still took place, though, and it was a success despite the controversy.
When does the Christmas Lights Festival begin?
The festival starts each year on the 7th of December; this day is known as the Day of Candles, a Colombian holiday that celebrates the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. The Christmas lights are typically kept up until the first half of January, a little over a month after they were initially illuminated.
Where will the light displays be visible?
One of the charms of the festival is that the displays are located in different spots every year. The corridor of the Medellín River is one popular location, but there are many other places that can be literally draped in LED lights. In recent years, up to 70 locations throughout the city were chosen for these festive decorations. 2022’s festival included about 32,000 illuminated figures, millions of LED lightbulbs, 466 miles of LED rope lights, and 3D holograms in nine out of 13 of the boats that were floating in the Medellín River.
Special activities to enjoy during the Christmas Lights Festival
The most obvious thing to do is go sightseeing along all the major light displays; since each one is different, you’ll be able to take in a new concept each time. Some of them are on boats that are anchored in the Medellín River, while others are suspended over the river itself. Other displays occupy parks, light up fountains, or turn entire streets into brilliantly illuminated landscapes.
As is typical for most South American cities, there will also be a huge selection of tasty holiday foods and beverages available from street vendors and shops alike. Some locations will have booths especially for local vendors, where you can grab some Christmas cookies, get a cup of artisanal coffee or hot cocoa, or buy a souvenir to commemorate the occasion. If handmade arts and crafts are more your style, those will be available as well.
Tips for a great time at the Christmas Lights Festival
A lot of people simply show up and start taking it all in, which is a great way to enjoy the festival. If you want to maximize the experience, though, there are a few things that might help with that.
- Do your homework on where the displays will be located, so you don’t waste sightseeing time on trying to find each destination.
- Pickpockets will be attracted by the large crowds of distracted people, so keep your personal items close in a secured bag or belt. Pockets don’t count!
- Budget plenty of time for traveling throughout the city, as the roads and public transport systems will be packed.
- Brush up on a few Spanish phrases to help you get around more efficiently. Some good starting points are phrases for asking (and giving) directions, and asking about where to buy specific items.
The takeaway
Medellín’s Christmas Lights Festival is a celebration of not only the Christmas season, but also of the values and traditions of Colombia. If you wanted to see the city at its best, this is one of the times to do it!
