Christmas lights in Medellin, known in Spanish simply as the “Lighting” (El Alumbrado) or more officially the EPM Lights (Alumbrados EPM), is a traditional seasonal event in Medellin, Colombia, where the city hangs millions of Christmas lights and holds light shows and other cultural events. Since the 1990s, the central locations of the lights have been on and around the Medellin River and La Playa Avenue. However, the event has expanded to include over one hundred other areas around the city.
The event usually lasts from the beginning of December until the beginning of January, and the lights are designed and sponsored by Empresas Públicas de Medellin (EPM), the city’s public utilities company. The event has grown yearly because of its attraction to tourists, with a widening availability of energy resources and budgets and increasing participation by local citizens. The ceremony traditionally began on 7 December, the Day of the Little Candles and the unofficial start to the Christmas season in Colombia. ( A list of other Festivals in Medellin )
However, in recent years, the lighting has begun sooner to accommodate the increase in tourism. All recreational parks and museums have free entry for children under 12 years old, and admission to the Museum of Antioquia is free for everyone during this season. In December 2012, the Lighting of Medellin was selected among the top ten cities to view holiday lights by the National Geographic website.
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