Villa de Leyva Lights Festival

Festival de Luces Villa de Leyva

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Carnival & ParadeVilla de Leyva
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forMasks, paradesJudging fireworks companies directly against
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: COP
CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type
The story

Villa de Leyva Lights Festival in Villa de Leyva

Villa de Leyva Lights Festival, or Festival de Luces, brings judged fireworks competitions to the town's colonial Plaza Mayor over three nights each December, created in 1986 to complement the national Noche de las Velitas candle tradition marking the Immaculate Conception. Colombia's leading pyrotechnics workshops compete on luminosity, height, sound and duration, alongside live music and choir performances.

Villa de Leyva Lights Festival, known locally as the Festival de Luces, was created in 1986 to give the town's Immaculate Conception candle season, already marked across Colombia as the Noche de las Velitas on December 7th, a dedicated fireworks competition rather than leaving the celebration to informal home displays alone.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Judging fireworks companies directly against each other on luminosity, height, sound and duration, rather than presenting a single uniform municipal display, gives this festival genuine competitive craft stakes uncommon among Colombian holiday fireworks shows

02

The mystery stays covered

Staging that competition inside the same vast colonial Plaza Mayor that hosts the town's August kite festival, while the rest of Villa de Leyva's balconies and streets glow with candles in the broader velitas tradition, creates a rare combination of citywide candlelight and a judged pyrotechnics contest in one place

03

The city starts moving

Running for three consecutive nights, rather than a single evening, is also unusual for a fireworks-focused event

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The town's broader velitas custom

Water and renewal

Living ritual

decorating balconies

The sacred route

Living ritual

sidewalks and terraces with candles and lanterns to mark the Immaculate Conception on December 7th

The local code

Living ritual

runs alongside the festival's judged fireworks competition and is a documented

Tradition 5

Living ritual

separate but complementary local tradition

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

For Villa de Leyva Lights Festival, plan transport around the exact Villa de Leyva venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Warm layers are essential here: Villa de Leyva's December nights are cold at altitude, and standing in an open plaza for hours after dark requires more than a light jacket. Closed...

Safety

Keep valuables light, set a meeting point, and give processions room to move.

Where to stay

For Villa de Leyva Lights Festival, stay near the part of Villa de Leyva you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

COP

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map5.63 N, 73.52 WOpen in Google Maps

Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia

Nearest airportBOG — El Dorado
TransportFor Villa de Leyva Lights Festival, plan transport around the exact Villa de Leyva venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Villa de Leyva Lights Festival, stay near the part of Villa de Leyva 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 Villa de Leyva via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Villa de Leyva, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearWarm layers are essential here: Villa de Leyva's December nights are cold at altitude, and standing in an open plaza for hours after dark requires more than a light jacket. Closed, comfortable shoes matter for standing on the plaza's uneven cobblestones for extended evening viewing.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 Villa de Leyva Lights Festival?

Villa de Leyva Lights Festival is listed for Past edition: 18 May 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Villa de Leyva Lights Festival take place?

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

How long should I plan for?

One day 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?

Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, 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 URLvilladeleyva-boyaca.gov.co
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusOfficial source linked
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