Every year, Itagüi, Colombia, celebrates the World Day of Laziness. This town, located less than 10 minutes from Medellin, wraps up its traditional Festival of Industry, Commerce, and Culture with the unique World Day of Laziness. This festivity, scheduled Sunday, Aug. 17, focuses on creative rest, the nostalgia of collective leisure, and slowing down as a form of artistic expression.
Known for its emblematic slogan “for the right to laziness, everyone to work” this day invites locals and visitors alike to take to the streets, equipped with pillows, portable beds, hammocks, and pajamas, to enjoy a playful atmosphere where art, music, and relaxation take center stage. From 9 a.m. until the early hours of the holiday Monday, the city transforms into a living stage filled with concerts, art exhibitions, beer festivals, classic car parades, the famous laziness parade, and a wide variety of activities along a nearly 2-kilometer pedestrian corridor.
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Colombia celebrates the World Day of Laziness in Itagüi
This curious celebration began in the 1980s as a response to the lack of cultural and recreational spaces in Itagüi. It was in 1985 when figures such as Carlos Mario Montoya, Libardo Restrepo, and other community leaders, along with local artistic institutions, promoted the creation of the World Day of Laziness to advocate for creative leisure as a citizen’s right. The proposal not only resonated with the town’s residents but also gained recognition at national events, such as a recreation congress in Bogota, eventually becoming a defining feature of Itagüi’s cultural identity.
Since then, this day has become part of the city’s intangible cultural heritage, symbolizing ingenuity, community spirit, and the enjoyment of free time as a shared value.
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The World Day of Laziness serves as the grand finale of Itagüi’s festivities, which take place from Aug. 9 to 17 and showcase the best of entertainment, culture, cuisine, and local entrepreneurship. During the festive week, more than 120 free activities were scheduled, featuring over 1,000 artists performing on multiple stages spread throughout the city — including iconic parks such as Obrero, Brasil, and the CAMI plaza.