National Guabina and Tiple Festival

Festival Nacional de la Guabina y el Tiple

View on map
MusicVelez
DatesDates TBA · Usually AugustCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsFew Colombian festivals are built around a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: COP
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

National Guabina and Tiple Festival in Velez

Velez's July folk festival, running since 1962, is Santander's oldest institutionalised celebration and the country's second-oldest festival of its kind. It centres on the tiple, Colombia's national instrument, and the guabina song-and-dance form, judged alongside torbellino performances and improvised coplas, plus craft and food fairs tied to the town's Andean highland identity.

Velez calls itself the folkloric capital of Colombia, a claim it stakes largely on this festival: first held in July 1962, it is the oldest continuously institutionalised folk festival in Santander department and the second oldest of its kind nationally, after the Bambuco Festival in Neiva.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few Colombian festivals are built around a single stringed instrument and its associated dance forms rather than a broad regional music bill: the tiple competitions here are judged specifically on the instrument considered Colombia's national one, paired with guabina, torbellino and moño performances rarely showcased together elsewhere at this scale

02

The mystery stays covered

Its standing as the second-oldest institutionalised folk festival in the country, after Neiva's Bambuco Festival, gives it historical weight beyond a typical municipal fair

03

The city starts moving

The accompanying exhibitions of Velez's woven leather alforjas and embroidery add a craft dimension distinct from music-only festivals in the same Andean interior region

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Coplas - short

Water and renewal

Living ritual

often improvised verses performed with the tiple - are judged alongside instrumental and dance categories

The sacred route

Living ritual

and the festival includes exhibitions of the region's traditional embroidery and woven leather alforja bags

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually August

Getting around

For National Guabina and Tiple Festival, plan transport around the exact Velez venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing suits the daytime plaza fairs; a light jacket is worth carrying for cooler evening sessions in Velez's highland climate. No particular formality is expected even...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For National Guabina and Tiple Festival, stay near the part of Velez you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

COP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map6.01 N, 73.67 WOpen in Google Maps

Velez, Santander, Colombia

Nearest airportEJA — Yariguíes
TransportFor National Guabina and Tiple Festival, plan transport around the exact Velez venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor National Guabina and Tiple Festival, stay near the part of Velez you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Velez via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Velez, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for August.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing suits the daytime plaza fairs; a light jacket is worth carrying for cooler evening sessions in Velez's highland climate. No particular formality is expected even at competition finals, which draw a local, family audience.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Colombia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is National Guabina and Tiple Festival?

National Guabina and Tiple Festival is listed for August. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does National Guabina and Tiple Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Velez, Colombia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Velez, Santander, Colombia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLvelez-santander.gov.co
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually August
Source statusOfficial source linked
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