Barranquilla Carnival

Tampa Sister Cities Committee, Inc. is affiliated with Sister Cities International

About Barranquilla

Barranquilla, the capital of Colombia’s Atlántico Department, is a bustling seaport flanked by the Magdalena River. The city is known for its enormous Carnival, which brings together flamboyantly costumed performers, elaborate floats and cumbia music. In the chic neighborhood of El Prado, the Museo Romántico showcases artifacts from past festivals and exhibits on famous Colombians, like writer Gabriel García Márquez.

Affiliate Leadership

Fernando Falquez

Fernando Falquez, Affiliate Director

Committee Chair

Tampa-Barranquilla Sister City Agreements

2012 Tampa-Barranquilla Sister Cities Agreement

Resources

Visit Colombia

Barranquilla Carnival

The Carnival of Barranquilla is Colombia's largest festival, a four-day celebration before Lent known for its vibrant parades, elaborate costumes, and blend of African, Indigenous, and European cultural traditions. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it's the world's second-largest carnival after Rio de Janeiro's, featuring music like cumbia, traditional dances, satirical performances, and handcrafted floats and masks.

Carnival and the Tampa–Barranquilla Sister City Relationship

Carnival is such an important part of Barranquilla’s culture that it should come as no surprise that it has played a role in our Sister City relationship. As early as the 1960s, distinguished visitors from Barranquilla shared Carnival traditions in Tampa. For example, Neyla Cidalia Charris Arias demonstrated Carnival dance to Mayor Nick Nuccio in 1966. In 1968, exchange students Raquel Pancer and Tulio Jaramillo introduced Carnival dance to fellow students and professors. By the 1970s, winners of the Miss Tampa pageant, such as Bonnie MacGregor, served as foreign queens representing Tampa at the Barranquilla Carnival.

In modern times, Tampa Sister Cities has continued to strengthen this cultural connection. In 2020, we began a partnership with Carnaval de Barranquilla Tampa Bay and its director, Patsy Morlando. That year, we assisted the organization in participating in the Sant’Yago Knight Parade. In 2022, we welcomed Carnival Queen Valeria Charris Salcedo to Tampa. In 2023, we welcomed Carnival Queen Natalia de Castro Gonzalez, followed in 2024 by Queen Tatiana Angulo Fernández de Castro and Rey Momo Juventino Ojito. In 2025, we again helped secure participation in the Knight Parade, reinforcing Carnival as a vibrant and enduring bridge between our two cities.