Medellín’s Christmas lights have become one of Colombia’s most emblematic traditions and have gained international fame for their display, artistic work, and grandeur. Today, they attract visitors from all over the world. This 2024, the show promises to be more impressive than ever, with famous figures that will illuminate the city like never before.
What will you find in this post?
- Theme: Christmas Nativity Scene
- Where will the lights be?
- Dates
- How to get there?
- Where to park?
- Schedule
- Price
- Security
Theme: Christmas Nativity Scene
This year, after two consecutive years with a Disney theme, the Christmas lights will return to their origins and become Medellín’s largest nativity scene. You will be able to relive the entire story of the birth of baby Jesus, the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.
Where will the lights be?
There will be different points where you can appreciate the Christmas lights. But, as is customary each year, the most impressive figures can be seen over the Medellín river canal. Therefore, the best place to enjoy this spectacle will be Parques del Río.
Aside from this place, the city’s plazas and parks, such as Parque de la Floresta, Parque de Laureles, Parque de Belén, or Parque Lleras, can be other spots to enjoy the Christmas lights. The most popular places are: Parques del Río, Carrera 70, Avenida La Playa, Junín, and the Tram.
Dates
The official lighting of the Christmas lights will take place on November 29, as announced by the city’s mayor, Federico Gutiérrez. They will illuminate the city until January 12, 2025. The lights will be active every day between these two dates.
How to get there?
To get to the Parques del Río lights, you can arrive by taxi or Metro. If you have your own vehicle, you can approach a nearby area and walk from there. If you want to arrive by Metro, the nearest station is Exposiciones. But if you are going at night (which is most common), I would advise you to take a taxi from there, as the nighttime route is on a road with little pedestrian traffic and can be a bit unsafe.
Where to park?
If you are driving your own vehicle, you have two main options. The first is to leave your car or motorcycle in the Plaza Mayor parking lot, which is a very secure, covered place with private security. From there, you will be a 5-minute walk from Parques del Río, and the walk from the parking lot to the park will be 100% safe.
Alternatively, you can park on the public streets around Parques del Río, which have some permitted parking spaces. However, I must warn you that these spaces are few and tend to fill up quickly. Some visitors choose to leave their vehicle a few blocks away in non-permitted areas. But by doing so, you assume two risks: 1) That traffic authorities will give you a ticket (which is common during this time), and 2) Being a victim of theft (as the surrounding area is lonely and such cases have occurred).
Schedule
You can enjoy the lights from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. But keep in mind: this attraction is very crowded during December, so the earlier you go, the better. For example, last year I chose to arrive at Parques del Río at 5:00 p.m., spend some time in one of the restaurants in the area, and start the tour at 6:00 p.m. This allowed me to appreciate the figures and take good photos without being surrounded by thousands of people.
Price
All of Medellín’s Christmas lights can be enjoyed completely free of charge, so take advantage of your money to support the local artisans and merchants who set up there for the Christmas season.
Security
In general, going to see the lights is very safe. There is both public and private surveillance, and you can carry your camera or phone without any problem. However, I advise you to keep your belongings visible and in a safe place while the area is crowded, to avoid any thief taking them without you noticing.
