Tampa and Barranquilla mark 60 years as sister cities with April 5K event

Tampa and Barranquilla will hold a 5K Run/Walk on April 26 to mark six decades as sister cities; the partnership began in 1966 and has supported cultural and civic exchanges.

Tampa and Barranquilla are marking 60 years as sister cities with a 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, April 26. The sister-city relationship began in 1966 and has supported cultural, educational and business exchanges. Organizers say the race will include Colombian traditions and will raise funds for the committee’s initiatives. The Tampa-Barranquilla Sister Cities Committee manages the partnership and coordinates exchanges and projects between the two cities. Key details: - The partnership began in 1966 and reached its 60th anniversary in 2026. - A 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, as part of the anniversary observance. - Paula Sofia Gómez and Carla Solano, from the committee’s Strategic Communications Department, said the race will feature Colombian traditions and help raise funds for initiatives. - Notable projects include "Vamos al Parque," which revitalized parks in Barranquilla, and work on the Malecón del Río Magdalena to transform an industrial zone into a family walkway. - The relationship has involved practical exchanges, such as Tampa providing Barranquilla with fire trucks, and cultural exchanges like Barranquilla performers appearing at Tampa’s Ybor City Carnival. Summary: The 60th anniversary highlights decades of cultural and municipal cooperation that have produced community projects and exchanges. The upcoming 5K serves as both a celebration and a fundraiser for the Sister Cities Committee. The next scheduled public event is the April 26 Run/Walk.