La Feria de Cali (The Cali Fair) is an annual event held in Cali, Colombia, from December 25 to December 30. If you are a salsa lover or enthusiast, you should experience it at least once in your lifetime! We visited the Feria in 2022 and it was one of our best dance travel trips. Here are the 5 reasons why:
4. See Big Salsa Bands at Intimate Venues
1. Cali is not a tourist trap
Cali is not a major tourist destination, so you can have a real and authentic experience here. It’s not the most beautiful city in the world, but there is something about its raw energy that is hard to find elsewhere. What Cali lacks in monuments and tourist hotspots, it makes up for in authentic experiences:
While walking the streets of Cali, you can marvel at some of the old-world street life such as the sugarcane juice vendors, or a guy writing poems on demand!
People are very friendly and never did we feel like someone was trying to rip us off or take advantage of us in any way. A note on safety: While it's not recommended to walk around at night or flash your mobile phone on the street, we never felt that it was any more dangerous than other cities in Latin America.
The culture of Cali is very rich, with the second largest population of African descent in South America (after Salvador, Brazil).
You can try some authentic street food- from skewers, to arepas and corn empanadas to exotic fresh fruit and fruit drinks.
2. Cali is the Salsa Capital of the World
Salsa didn't originate in Cali, so why is the city often referred to as the Salsa Capital of the World?
Salsa first arrived in Cali in the 1960's and 70's in the form of LP discs brought by ships to Buenaventura on the Pacific Coast and it quickly gained popularity throughout the city. In the 1980's, local salsa bands such as Grupo Niche and Guayacán Orquesta emerged, both of which have become world salsa icons. You can still hear them live at the annual Feria de Cali. Unlike other Colombian cities, where styles like reggaeton have become more popular, Cali still lives and breathes salsa, with innumerable salsa clubs and schools to choose from.
The Cali style of salsa, internationally known as Colombian Salsa, features intricate footwork performed at high speed. Despite having this unique style, we felt that all styles of salsa are welcome in Cali, embodying the true sense of the word salsa (blend).
3. Attend Feria de Cali Events
There are soo many different events at the Feria de Cali that we found it hard to decide which ones to attend! We went to these two official events, but there are many more:
Salsódromo: 25th December
The iconic salsa parade opens the festival, with Cali salsa schools and salsa bands showcasing their talents. Some sections of the parade are free, while others are ticketed. Although we went to one of the free sections, we were still able to soak in the electric atmosphere. Below is a video of the iconic Guayacán Orquesta on a float:
Súper concierto: 27th December
This huge concert at the Olympic Stadium Pascual Guerrero took place from 8:00 p.m. a 3:00 a.m. (although we only stayed till 1am) , featuring huge salsa icons such as Victor Manuelle, El Gran Combo and Guayacán Orquesta, among others. In 2023, the organisers decided to go back to the roots and only include salsa artists. However, in previous years, the festival featured other Latin styles and we were lucky that 2022 was headlined by Maluma, the most popular Colombian artist at the time. Seeing Maluma in his homeland was pretty amazing as the whole stadium pretty much knew all of his songs!
4. See Big Salsa Bands at intimate venues
While there are plenty of official events as part of the Feria, there are also numerous concerts, street parties and other salsa events during the Feria de Cali week. Many of the big artists participating in the Feria also perform at smaller venues during the festival week, so you can see a different live salsa band every night. We were fortunate to experience Los Van Van in a more intimate setting at one of the festival tents. The incredible atmosphere was almost as amazing as seeing the band itself.
5. Endless Entertainment
By now you might have guessed that the main problem you are going to have at the Feria de Cali is choosing which events to attend! Beyond the official events, there are countless concerts, street parties, and other salsa events throughout the week. The city's vibrant nightlife really comes alive during the Feria, offering endless entertainment options. Here are some other salsa experiences you can't miss:
La Topa Tolondra- a Cali institution where you can show off your social dance skills, or marvel at those of others. There was a long line when we went, so make sure you get in early.
Museo de la Salsa- a cute little museum showcasing famous salsa artists. The entertaining guide also made the experience extra special.
One week in Cali wasn't really enough to explore all the salsa adventures the city has to offer, but the Feria de Cali provided a peek into the vibrant culture and a taste of the city's rich salsa culture. If you have a chance to visit the Salsa Capital of the World during the Feria de Cali, don't miss it!
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