The Salsódromo, classic and vintage car parade, the Superconcert, the great fair, and many more events are waiting for you from December 25th to 30th at the Cali Fair in Colombia; the city's biggest event, which is a showcase of the folklore and culture of its people. A celebration that started as the Feria de la Caña in 1957 and today is an annual reaffirmation of the passion for life, salsa, and the joy of the people of Cali.
This event, held in the capital of Valle del Cauca, is a tribute to flavor and rhythm, especially salsa, a genre that has given this city international fame. No wonder Cali is known as the ‘World Salsa Capital’.
The Cali Fair was born as a commemoration of the resilience and strength of the people of Cali through a display of art, culture, and courage. Thanks to their effort, the city has become a must-visit destination for all lovers of dance and music.
During the fair, you can enjoy not only music, but also the culinary delights of Cali: empanadas, luladas, aborrajados, chontaduros, ceviches, and other local delicacies accompany visitors to Cali in the afternoons. The Tascas are traditional places where tourists can eat and enjoy a varied menu, accompanied by live performances from noon until the early morning. These are located in the Retreta Park, next to Paseo Bolívar.
Come dance at the Cali Fair 2022
With the aim of bidding farewell to the year in the grandest way, the fair usually offers over 50 events for the people of Cali and tourists of all ages and tastes to fully enjoy this grand celebration.
This year will celebrate the 65th edition of the fair, which, on this occasion, will not stay only in the specific spots of the parades and concerts, but will travel to all 22 communes and 15 districts with the Rural and Communal Fair, where the six happiest days of the year will be celebrated with musical and artistic performances and fun for everyone.
On December 25th, the party starts with the Salsódromo. There, you can watch the best salsa dancers take over the streets of the city to show off their talent in a true ode to happiness, color, and life.
Additionally, for 2022, the Valle del Cauca Government and the Departmental Culture Secretariat will hold the second edition of Fiesta de Mi Pueblo: a colorful, family-friendly, and joyful parade featuring over a thousand artists on stage and floats that represent dance, the aroma of coffee, sugar cane, fruit trees, and other tourist and cultural attractions of the municipalities in the department. Moreover, for the second consecutive year, on December 26th, the Timba Festival will celebrate Afro-Caribbean music.
On December 27th, one of the fair’s most notable events, the Classic and Antique Car Parade, will take place. A 1.5-kilometer route through the streets of Cali will take you on a journey through time. Here, you’ll see vintage vehicles from the early 20th century, driven by their owners, who, along with their families and friends, will be dressed in period clothing.
We will also have the Melomaniacs and Collectors' Gathering, a space for salsa lovers who enjoy Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin rhythms, to "dance the night away" during five consecutive days at the Pedro Grajales Athletics Stadium.
Furthermore, we have Cali Viejo, which will take place on December 28th. This parade is a cultural heritage of the city and a tribute to the Afro-descendant and indigenous traditions of the region; it is also a gesture of respect for the diversity and ancestral identity of Valle del Cauca, featuring national and international guests.
On December 29th and 30th, the Calle de la Feria will take place, with two stages on the Autopista Sur Oriental at Carrera 39 for music lovers to enjoy the best "crossover" or mixed music.
And to end the fair in style, on December 30th, you can enjoy the Closing Concert, which will be held in the Ladera sector of Cali, an ideal spot to gather tourists and locals who are enjoying the city during these days.
Learn about the Cali Fair in Numbers
Thanks to all these events, in addition to other festival celebrations, the Cali Fair positively impacts more than 10,000 artists who are admired year after year by over 1 million tourists; which represents around 400 billion pesos for the region's economy.
Out of the more than 35,000 international tourists who visit the city during the season, 4,800 come to Cali for the first time and discover it thanks to the fair. From the rest of the country, about 80,000 people visit the Capital of Valle. For example, the Melomaniacs and Collectors' Gathering receives almost 20,000 people per day.
Those who experience the fair want to return: 9 out of 10 local attendees, 1 out of 2 national visitors, and 1 out of 3 international visitors have enjoyed previous editions.
As a popular festivity, most of the programming is free. The Salsódromo parades, the Cali Viejo Carnival, and the Classic and Antique Car Parade are open to all. However, there is always the option to pay for a spot in the grandstands.
Decentralization is total, which makes the fair reach all communes and districts of the city with 37 popular festivities throughout its 6 days and more than 200 local artists. For all this and much more, now you know: don't forget to visit Cali when salsa is playing on every corner of the city!
