
Cartagena Event Calendar
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Concert | Solomun – Fenix Beach Cartagena | January 4, 2025 12:00 AM - January 4, 2025 12:00 PM | Fenix Beach, Cartagena | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Reinado de las fiestas de independencia: The Independence Festivities Queen Pageant | November 11, 2024 12:00 AM - November 12, 2024 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Bilingual city tour | February 15, 2025 3:06 AM - February 15, 2025 3:06 AM | Book Now Add to Calendar | |
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Dance | Epic Night Cartagena | February 15, 2025 3:06 AM - February 15, 2025 3:06 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Food | History of Coffee and Preparation Masterclass | February 15, 2025 3:06 AM - February 15, 2025 3:06 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Cartagena City Tour | February 15, 2025 3:06 AM - February 15, 2025 3:06 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Cartagena Art Tour | February 15, 2025 3:06 AM - February 15, 2025 3:06 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Food | Mesón Cartagenero | November 6, 2024 12:00 AM - November 11, 2024 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Independence of Cartagena 2025 | November 11, 2025 12:00 AM - November 11, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Concert | Buena Vida Beach 2025 | January 3, 2025 12:00 AM - February 15, 2025 3:06 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | El Caribe Pride Festival 2025 | January 16, 2025 12:00 AM - January 19, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Corpus Christi | June 2, 2025 12:00 AM - June 2, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Concert | Cartagena Film Festival | April 1, 2025 12:00 AM - April 26, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Semana Santa (Holy Week) | April 11, 2025 12:00 AM - April 20, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Sports | Media Maraton del Mar | February 16, 2025 12:00 AM - February 16, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Special | Feria de la candelaria | January 27, 2025 12:00 AM - February 2, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Concert | “Canto del Mar” Music Festival | January 4, 2025 12:00 AM - January 12, 2025 12:00 AM | Book Now Add to Calendar | |
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Special | Hay Festival Cartagena | January 30, 2025 12:00 AM - February 2, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
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Food | Festival del Frito Cartagenero | February 1, 2025 12:00 AM - February 15, 2025 12:00 AM | Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia | Book Now Add to Calendar |
Upcoming Events in Cartagena

Nov
6
Mesón Cartagenero

DEC
14
Afrogena Festival 2024
Cartagena Events and Festivals in 2025
I come from Cartagena; vibrant, serene, historical, cultural, musical, magical, and realistic. I belong to this Caribbean part of my country, where the heat and salty air will seduce you alongside its sea and sunsets filled with beautiful colors. I invite you to stroll through its streets and colonial balconies, which will captivate you with their vibrant atmosphere and rhythmic music. Among drums, flutes, accordions, and maracas.
Here, the devotion to parties, festivals, and celebrations will lure you into a carefree, romantic, and yet cultured environment, also business-minded and entrepreneurial.
For me, Cartagena is everything, which is why I invite you to discover every corner, its people, and its projects.
Below, I offer you a list of the vibrant events that Cartagena has prepared for locals and visitors during 2025.
The festive spirit of the people of Cartagena and the Caribbean, in general, stems from our ethnic and cultural fusion, inherited from Europeans, mainly Spain (Andalusia and Castile), Africans (Congo, Ghana, Nigeria), and Indigenous peoples (Calamary-Caribbean).
Colombians, in general, are joyful and optimistic; the people of the Caribbean coast are festive, and Cartageneros, in particular, are a constant celebration. The tropical man enjoys life and recognizes the privilege of being who he is, appreciates his surroundings, protects his family, and is welcoming and protective of what is his, without being reluctant to share, based on respect and tolerance.
The coexistence of races makes us welcoming and communicative people, which we express in our cuisine—Castilian, maritime, rural, and exotic. With distinctive aromas and flavors that delight even the most demanding palates.
I won’t extend further, it’s time for you to experience for yourself the exuberance of our landscapes, the warmth of its people, vibrant music and festivals, and the dishes with their fusion of flavors. I invite you to join me on this adventure; the exciting festivals and events prepared for 2025 in this traditional and festive Cartagena will be something you will never forget.
So, to enjoy all the events and festivals in 2025, we have an essential list below of what you must do to have the best experience.
Events in Cartagena 2025
The Seven Most Anticipated Events in Cartagena for 2025:
1. Independence Festival or November Festivities 2025 From November 11 to November 17
Cartagena’s Independence carries a deep historical and cultural significance, which is reflected in the heart of the events celebrated during the first days of November. These festivities commemorate Cartagena’s Independence, which took place on November 11, 1811, following the emancipation route that began in 1810 with the expulsion of Spanish Governor Francisco de Montes.
The celebration culminates in the week of November 11, but it is important to note that the festivities’ agenda starts in October with preludes in three neighborhoods, followed by several events across the city. The program includes the Jorge García Usta School Festival, the Night of Fire and Drum Celebration, the Student Parade honoring Independence Heroes, and the Night of Tradition.
Regarding Ángeles Somos, it is the Christian version of the Anglo-Saxon pagan Halloween, where children sing humorous songs, not asking for candy but rather for ingredients for a delicious stew.
A bit of history
The November festivities commemorate Cartagena’s Independence after a path of emancipation from Spain. It not only had a national impact, being the first population of the viceroyalty to seek self-government, but it also played a significant role in South America’s struggle for independence from the Spanish in the 19th century. It was a precursor and inspiration for the Latin American independence movement that began with the signing of Cartagena’s Act of Independence.
2. Bando and Coronation Festivities November 10 at Plaza de la Trinidad
We are a people of festive tradition with historical memory rooted in our independence. Just a year after signing the Act of Independence, we began celebrating the November festivities. Though they have transformed over time, many key elements remain.
From 1930 onwards, the November festivities became more focused on the national beauty pageant than on independence itself. However, in recent years, there has been more emphasis on historical aspects, with parades and concerts. The parade is still a central part of the event, but the winner is now the Queen of Independence, not the National Queen as before.
A bit of history
The Bando and the election of Popular Queens and the Queen of Independence are cultural expressions dating back to the Republican era, blending beauty, music, and color to represent our ethnicity.
3. Cartagena International Music Festival From January 4 to January 12
The annual Music Festival will be held from January 4 to January 12, 2025, in Cartagena, Colombia. The theme of the Festival is “Sounds of the Sea,” showcasing music and compositions from the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Spain and Portugal.
A bit of history
According to the Bank of the Republic, staging historical memory through poetic compositions, music, speeches, and civic processions facilitates a collective memory that evokes pride, identity, and celebration. Artistic expressions that originated during colonial times, such as cumbia, gaitas, African cabildos, congo, mapalé, and fandangos de lenguas, evolved through the Republican and modern eras, reproducing the memory of the people of Cartagena.
4. Frito Festival 2025 From January 26 to February 4
This festival traditionally takes place during the Candlemas celebrations, integrating religious, cultural, and gastronomic elements celebrated in the city in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria. Its goal is to preserve the city’s cultural heritage and consolidate its multi-ethnic and multicultural identity, as reflected in local cuisine.
A bit of history
Celebrated continuously for over 35 years, the Frito Festival is held during the Candlemas celebrations, from January 26 to February 4. The city’s patron saint is the Black Virgin of Candelaria.
5. Dulce Festival 2025 March 31 at Parque del Centenario
Held during Holy Week, this is a delightful gastronomic tradition featuring a variety of sweets made from the region’s tropical fruits. You can find these sweets in the Portal de los Dulces and the colonial streets of the historic center, especially in Plaza de la Aduana.
A bit of history
Since colonial times, during Holy Week, Cartagena women and their mostly African-descended servants have celebrated Easter and Jesus’ Resurrection by making sweets with the vast variety of exotic fruits from the region. These were once exchanged between families or neighbors.
6. Cartagena Film Festival From April 16 to April 21
The Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI) is a free cinematic event with a social mission that reflects the circumstances of the country and the world. It is the largest and most representative film festival in Latin America, serving as a communication window for the performing arts. The India Catalina, the statuette awarded at the festival, is a symbol of cinematic achievement. The 63rd edition of the festival will feature more than 170 screenings, 26 world premieres, 37 Latin American premieres, and 50 national premieres. From April 16 to 21, Cartagena will host the best of the film industry.
A bit of history
Founded in 1960, it is the oldest film festival in Latin America. Throughout its history, it has supported and promoted innovation and the renewal of dramaturgy and cinematography in Ibero-America and the world.
7. Hay Festival of Cartagena de Indias From January 30 to February 2
Under a pleasant temperature, literature takes over Cartagena de Indias, paying tribute to the written word. Attendees enjoy novels and poetry, as well as plays, exhibitions, workshops, and conferences. It lasts for four days and begins every year during the last week of January, bringing together writers, artists, journalists, poets, and storytellers from Colombia, Latin America, Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany.
A bit of history
The Hay Festival of Cartagena de Indias is one of the international versions of the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, which began in Hay-on-Wye in Wales. This festival was inaugurated in 1988 by Norman, Rhoda, and Peter Florence and lasts 10 days. In Cartagena, it has become one of the best festivals in the world, starting here in 2006 due to the organizers’ desire to have Colombian Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez present, as well as due to the city’s modern infrastructure and scenic beauty.
Useful Tips
Cartagena is located on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean, so its climate is semi-arid, warm, and dry, although the breeze makes it pleasant. There are two main seasons and a transitional one: the rainy season (from May to November); the dry season, with no rainfall (starting in December and ending in April); and a transition period with occasional rain.
If you ask me when the best time to visit Cartagena is, I would say it depends on your interests. Many people visit during the dry season from December to April.
The average temperature ranges between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. From December to April, it’s cooler, around 24 to 29 degrees. In the afternoons, there is usually a breeze, so shorts are recommended during the day, along with hats or caps, and long sleeves in the evening. At all times, comfortable shoes such as sandals or walking shoes are advised, as the streets in the historic center are paved or made of stone or brick. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, allowing you to fully enjoy your fabulous stay and all