What it is and context
Every year, when the wind from the Cauca River becomes stubborn and the sky over Cali turns a deep blue, something happens that doesn't appear in tourist brochures or official guides. At Loma de la Cruz, that natural viewpoint overlooking the city from the west-central side, Cali families take their kites out from under the bed, assemble them with scraps of plastic and newspaper, and fly them as if the wind were a magnet. It's not an event produced by the Mayor's Office or a fair sponsored by soda brands. It's the Urban Kite Festival of Loma de la Cruz, a tradition that the residents of the San Antonio neighborhood and surrounding areas have been weaving for years, and which in May 2026 promises to be bigger than ever.
If you're one of those who think Cali is only salsa, guaro, and the Pascual Guerrero stadium, you're missing half the city. This festival is one of those plans that shows a tourist the real Cali, the one of the people who sit on the edge of a hill to watch the kites dance with the wind, while children run barefoot and grandparents tell how they made their own kites with broomsticks and bread bags. There's no box office, no VIP line, no dress code. Just the sky, the wind, and a community that refuses to let a tradition that should be a city's heritage die out.
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And the best part is it's free. Well, almost. If you don't have a kite, you can buy one from the vendors who come up that day, or better yet, arrive early for the free construction workshops using recycled materials organized by the neighbors themselves. Because the charm here isn't just flying the kite, but building it with your hands, feeling the taut string when the wind catches it, and watching it rise until it looks like a lost dot among the clouds.
Event details: dates, times, and the best spot to see the kites
The Urban Kite Festival of Loma de la Cruz takes place every year on the last Saturday of August. For 2026, the date confirmed by the organizing community is Saturday, August 29. But beware: this is not a one-day event. Preparations start from the previous Thursday, when neighbors begin cleaning the hill, setting up safety ropes, and putting up tents for the workshops.
The festival's main hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the best time to arrive is between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the wind is strongest and the sun isn't too harsh. If you arrive after 3:00 p.m., the wind starts to calm down and the kites begin to fall like dead leaves. Also, the free kite-building workshops usually close registration at 1:00 p.m., so if you want to build yours from scratch, get up early.
Where to see them best?
There are two key spots. The first is from below, at the Loma de la Cruz square, right where Carrera 29 meets Calle 2A. That's where the beautiful chaos happens: children running, dogs barking at the kites' shadows, vendors selling cholados and shaved ice. It's the ideal spot for photos with the kites in the background and the Cerro de las Tres Cruces to the side.
The second is from above, climbing to the top of the hill, where there's a small viewpoint with concrete benches. From there, the view is spectacular: you see the entire city spread out while the kites seem to swim over the rooftops of San Antonio, Granada, and downtown. It's the favorite spot for local photographers and couples looking for a romantic plan without spending a peso.
The lineup (yes, there's music)
It's not a music festival, but music is never missing. During the day, local chirimía and marimba groups from the Pacific region perform live on an improvised stage next to the Loma chapel. There are also folk dance performances by the San Antonio Cultural Foundation, and at the end of the afternoon, when the wind has died down, a Spanish-language rock group from the Universidad del Valle closes the day with an acoustic concert. All of this is organized by the neighbors themselves with support from the neighborhood's Community Action Board.
Prices and how to get tickets
Here's the best part: admission is completely free. There's no ticketing, no presale, no guest list. You arrive, sit on the grass or concrete, and enjoy. If you want to participate in the kite-building workshops, you don't pay anything either, but you must arrive early because spots are limited (about 80 people per workshop, and they fill up fast).
If you don't have a kite and don't want to make one, local vendors offer them at prices ranging from $5,000 COP (small plastic kites) to $25,000 COP (large fabric kites with animal or character designs). There are also food stalls with empanadas, pandebono, cholado, natural juices, and craft beer from the Cerveza del Valle house, at neighborhood prices: empanadas at $2,000 COP, cholado at $4,000 COP, and beer at $5,000 COP.
If you want to bring your own food, you can do so without any problem. Loma de la Cruz has large green areas where people lay out blankets and have picnics. Just remember to bring a bag for trash; the organizing community is very strict about caring for the public space.
How to get there: MIO transport, parking lots, and recommended routes
Getting to Loma de la Cruz is relatively easy, but it has its tricks. If you're a tourist, don't try to get there by private car if you don't know the area well. The streets are narrow, steep, and parking is scarce. Better option: the MIO.
By MIO (recommended)
The routes that drop you closest are:
- Route P47B: Get off at the San Antonio station and walk 5 minutes uphill along Carrera 29.
- Route P21A: Get off at the Loma de la Cruz station (yes, there is a station with that name) and walk two blocks up.
- Route A14: From downtown, it drops you at Calle 2 with Carrera 28, three blocks from the square.
If you're coming from the north or south, you can take any route that passes by Calle 5 or Avenida 2A Norte and get off at the Capilla station, which is a 10-minute walk away.
By private car
If you insist on bringing your vehicle, know that the nearest parking lot is Parqueadero San Antonio, located at Carrera 29 # 2-45. It charges $5,000 COP per hour (reference prices from May 2026). There are also informal parking spots on the surrounding streets, but I don't recommend them: they're expensive and sometimes lack security. A safer option is to leave your car at the Centro Comercial San Andresito (Calle 1 with Carrera 30) and walk 15 minutes.
By taxi or ride-hailing app
A taxi from downtown costs around $8,000 COP; from the north (Granada neighborhood or Chipichape), about $15,000 COP. By ride-hailing app (Uber, Didi, inDriver), the price varies, but it's usually cheaper than a taxi. However, ask to be dropped off at the Loma de la Cruz Square, not at the chapel, because from the chapel you have to climb a very steep slope.
Tips for attendees: how to enjoy the festival like a local
Here are some tips that only those who have gone several times know:
- Arrive before 10:00 a.m. If you arrive later, the wind is already good, but the space to sit comfortably shrinks. Also, the kite workshops fill up within the first 30 minutes.
- Bring sunscreen and a cap. Loma de la Cruz has no natural shade. The August sun in Cali hits hard from 9:00 a.m. Sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher is recommended.
- Bring water. Although there are drink vendors, prices go up a bit during the festival (a 600 ml water can cost $3,000 COP). Better to bring your own bottle and refill it at the drinking water points set up by the community.