Pereira has two seasons: dry and rainy. The driest months are December through March, which is the best time for outdoor activities and day trips. A second drier spell comes in July and August. The wettest periods are April to June and October to November, when afternoon downpours are common.
The Fiestas de la Cosecha (Harvest Festival) in August is the city's biggest celebration, with parades, a beauty pageant, orchid exhibitions, and cultural events marking the coffee harvest. In November, the Festival del Despecho draws musicians, poets, and singers from across Colombia for a folk festival devoted to heartbreak, cane liquor, and melancholy music. Both are worth timing a visit around.