NEW: Colombian Parade to Feature "Festival of Flowers"

NEW: Colombian Parade to Feature "Festival of Flowers"

The annual Rhode Island Colombian Festival Parade in Pawtucket is coming this weekend on Sunday, July 24 and coming all the way from Medellín, Colombia to participate is the “Colombian Rose Bowl Parade” also called the “Feria de las Flores” (Festival of the Flowers). This parade in Colombia involves hundreds of flowers of all different types that are carried down throughout the mountains and villages on the backs of the local vendors and growers. These flowers are later sold on the markets on the streets of Medellín to people in the community and parade watchers.

"This event is a big deal," said Alex Parmenidez, event director for the Colombian American Cultural Society. "The Feria de las Flores coming here to join in our parade is a tremendous show of respect and appreciation for our Colombian community and Rhode Island."

President Gabe Martinez hopes to see a strong turnout for local florists and farmers to come marvel at these Columbian flowers, which make up a whopping 70% of cut flowers sold in the U.S. “We're inviting everyone who loves flowers to our parade and festival,” he says, “We hope that fans and patrons of the flower shows in Newport and elsewhere will want to come and see another side of what Colombia is all about.”

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The parade will commence this Sunday, July 24 at 10am. It will begin in Central Falls at Dexter Credit Union and march through Golf Avenue, Exchange Street, Roosevelt Avenue, and end in downtown Pawtucket at the Slater Mill festival grounds.