With cool spring weather and university culture, Manizales is famous for its love and dedication to art and culture. Every year visitors book months in advance to attend either the Feria de Manizales, in January, or the International Theater Festival in September - two of the oldest and most famous fair/festivals of their type in Latin America.

Throughout the year residents enjoy a steady programming of art exhibitions, concerts, poetry readings, dance festivals and special events. Fundadores Theater is famous for its acoustic quality and brings in many important events and celebrities.

Feria de Manizales and the International Coffee Queen Pageant
The biggest event of the year is the Feria de Manizales, with more than 50 years of yearly celebrations. For the best of Colombian traditions and parties, it also features the International Coffee Queen Pageant.

In 2020, more than 20 different countries which either export or import coffee, participated. During the Feria week, participants went on fan trips to the mountains and local municipalities, competed in a swimsuit, coffee tasting/preparation and evening wear categories, for the title of International Coffee Queen. The winner in 2020 was Iris Guerra, Miss El Salvador.