The Flower Festival began in the 1950's to encourage the large number of flower growers in and around Medellin. The first festivities consisted of just the locals parading through the downtown area but it has burst out into more than a week long event filled with concerts, parades, speeches, and craft sales.
CELEBRATION OF FLOWER FESTIVAL BY THE LOCALS
Ambato is commonly touted as Ecuador's garden city. Ambato's Flower Festival is the main attraction for tourists and visitors coming to view their grand event. The annual Fruit and Flower Festival in Ecuador, Fiesta de la Fruta y de las Flores, takes place in a number of locations throughout the city. The month of February blossoms with a variety of music, dance and sports events to celebrate the yearly Fruit and Flower Festival. The locals traditionally attend a blessing given to the fruit and flowers in the cathedral. The Mariarchi festival is something that everybody looks forward to. The athletic running race through the city streets; the coronation of the Queen of Ambato; the National Cowboy Parade on the first day and of course the all-important Fruit and Flower Parade are great festivities during the time of the Flower Festival of Ecuador. Gala arrangements called Silletas that can be as large as 15 feet in diameter and need to be carried by a group of people are one of the major spot lights of this festival. They are arranged to make intricate designs, sometimes of landscapes, figures, or famous paintings and image.
The flower Festival on the final day takes hours to finish as the flower fair ends with a Grande Parade accompanied by music and dancing. This is one of the most colorful Festivals of Ecuador.
