Fiestas and Festivals

Fiestas and Festivals in La Manga

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Market Garden week (Semana de la Huerta) in August, Festival of the Sea in August.,International Festival of Mining Song in August. San Havier Jazz Festival.

Every year the city of Cartagena hosts the world famous "Romans and Carthaginians" festival. For a week the city hosts warring Romans and Carthaginians re-enacting old battles. Groups from all over Spain and also overseas form cohorts and legions of Romans. A massive fair is in town and the football stadium, roman ampitheatre and other locations are used for a variety of themed events. Parties start late in the evening and go on all night!

National Fiestas
National fiestas are public holidays throughout the country. You can expect almost all businesses to be closed on these days. However there are usually some supermarkets and shops open until 2pm.
Jan 1st Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)
Jan 6th Dia de los tres Reyes:  (Three Kings Day). This is traditionally the day that Spanish children receive their Christmas presents. The previous evening the three kings would have arrived in nearly every village, town and city. Depending on the size of the location they may arrive on a small float or in the middle of a large procession, in some places they even arrive by boat. Dia del Tres Reyes is a day for families and is usually of more importance than December 25th
 Mar 19th San Jose (Father's Day)
Variable Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
Variable Dia de Pascua (Easter Sunday)
May 1st Dia del Trabajo (Labour Day)
Jun 24th San Juan (St.John's Day)
Variable (mid June)Corpus Christi
Jun 29th San Pedro y San Pablo (St.Peter & St.Paul)
Jul 25th Santiago (St.James, patron saint of Spain)
Aug 15th Asuncion (Assumption)
Oct 12th Dia de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day)
Nov 1st Todos los Santos (All Saints Day)
Dec 6thDia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day)
Dec 8th Immaculada Concepcion (Immaculate Conception)
Dec 25th Navidad (Christmas Day). Although December 24th is not recognised as a fiesta it is an important night for Spanish families and many businesses either close early or do not open at all on this day, the same applies to December 31st

Regional Fiesta of Murcia province: June 9th

Local Fiestas in the Murcia Region

Every city, town and village in the Region of Murcia has its own special day (Patrimonio Day) when they hold their Fiesta. Each Fiesta varies form place to place and usually celebrates a Saint (Santa) or Religious festival (Easter is Santa Semana – Holy Week) or a product of the area (such as the Wine Fiesta at Jumilla) or a historical event (such as the Roman Fiesta at Cartagena) In fact they don’t really need an excuse to have a Fiesta!!
The Fiestas are wonderful colourful events which include a fabulous procession, where they carry the Santa though the centre of the town on their shoulders The costumes are splendid and often take all year to make. The floats are covered in flowers and banners are carried. The whole town is involved, there are marching bands leading processions which include local dignitaries, people of all ages and  complete families from grand mother to the smallest of babies, who are pushed along in decorated pushchairs – some are Roman Chariots, some are fishing boats!!
The Fiestas usually go on into the night, and sometimes can actually last a full week or even longer, with music and dancing in the streets, food on every corner and culminating in a spectacular firework display

Below are details of some, but by no means all, of the local fiestas in the Murcia region. 

January
San Pedro del Pinitar
5th January the eve of Los Reyes Magos, there is a procession through the streets

Aledo
6th January they celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise men with a procession led by a young girl who is representing the Star in the East. She leads the neighbours to the birth of Jesus

Totana
7th January (January 7) This is the date on which the people of Totana hold their traditional pilgrimage when the image of 'Santa Eulalia', accompanied by a great procession, is returned to her retreat in the mountains, starts at 9 am

Aguilas
5th January Three Kings Cavalcade procession through the town.
6th January Fiesta in El Garrobillo with presentation of the Three King’s car.
Weekend closest to san Anton. Fiesta in Tebar from 12.00 hrs.

Caravacca
End of January Fiesta de las Cuadrillas de Barranda A lively fiesta of folk singing and dance. The narrow streets are full of food and wine

February 
Aguillas
Aguilas Carnival, declared to be of National Tourist Interest, with large and impressive street processions and important competitions. The Carnival takes place approximately forty days before Easter.
 
March
Los Alcazares
Las Incursiones Berberiscas started in 2000 this fiesta is full of music, dance, games, a medieval market and much more
 
Easter 
Easter - Santa Semana - Holy Week
This is a huge celebration in the Region of Murcia, the Region almost comes to a standstill for this most celebrated time in the Christian calendar. The sombre, but colourful processions are held in most towns. Some of the most spectacular can be seen in Lorca, Murcia and Cartagena. The Easter fiesta in Lorca is of particular note, a fabulous procession of Romans, Christians and even Egyptians some on elaborate floats while others are on horseback or in chariots.
 
April
Totana
April 25th The Fiesta de San Marco - This festival takes place in the town of Totana with the day traditionally being spent in the countryside and people enjoy the typical dish of 'garabazos'.
 
May
Caravacca de la Cruz
The first week in May sees the Fiestas de la Santísima y Vera Cruz in Caravacca. A week of festivities, the most famous being the wine horse fiesta where the horses are dressed in bejewelled costumes and raced through the narrow streets.

Torre Pacheco
Procession of the Santa Cruz

 July 
San Javier
The month of July celebrates with a Jazz Festival at San Javier. Top Musicians from all over the world take part in this fast growing event.

Cartagena
16th July, local sailors honour their patroness La Virgen del Carmen. Celebrations are centred in the port area where a stage is erected & a feast held. The evening finishes with the launching of decorated boats.
 
August
Aguilas
The whole month of August is a fiesta in Aguilas, with a fair, various competitions, regattas, sports tournaments, games, cultural events, theatre and exhibitions, etc.
First Sunday of the month, is Tourist Day.
Second Sunday of the month "Encuentro de Cuadrillas".
14th August at 10 p.m. Firework Display over the Levante Bay with viewing  from the Port.
15th August, the highlight of the season with a celebration of the"Asuncion de la Virgen" (Assumption of the Virgin).

Los Alcazares
In the middle of August the Semana Internacional de la Huerta is held in Los Alcazares. This week long Fiesta has folk music, bands and handicrafts

Jumilla
A week in the middle of August the Fiestas de la Vendimia
This town is famous through out Europe for its wine. The fiesta celebrates the wine production with the crushing of grapes, wine tastings and ending with a parade of Moors and Christians

La Union
Early August Festival del Cante de las Minas. A week of flamenco competitions makes this little mining town come alive with song, dance and music

September
Cartagena
Late September (please check date). The Carthaginians & Romans Fiesta is one of the largest and most spectacular Fiestas in the Region. Roman campsites are set up on the outskirts of the city and events are organised thoughout the week. The site of hundreds of Roman soldiers, barbarians and cartaginians marching through Cartagena is a sight to behold

Calasparra
Second week in September the Romería de la Santísima Virgen de la Esperanza is held in Calasparra. Famous for its rice this small town comes alive with singing and dancing into the night. Speciality food Mijas is served to passers by.
 October
Los Alcazares
October 12th, El Caldero. Different community groups gather on the sands of Los Alcazares beach to cook the traditional dish Caldero, A day of music, games and good food.
 
December
Totana
December 8, 9 and 10 – Fiestas in honour of Saint Eulalia These festivals begin with a pilgrimage in which the image of 'Santa Eulalia' is taken from the retreat in the mountain to that of 'San Roque'. Later, the image is taken to the church of 'Santiago' (Saint James), when a procession also takes place.
15th and 16th December Fiestas de San Roque Religious acts take place at this time of year which culminate in the procession of the Saint. There are also cultural and traditional celebrations such as the popular open-air parties which create a highly festive atmosphere.

Aguilas
8th December, Fiesta in El Garrobillo from 12,00hrs, to commemorate the Immaculate Conception
25th December, Traditional Christmas Fiesta in La Cuesta de Gos from 12,00hrs
28th December, Fiesta in El Garrobillo from 12,00hrs to commemorate the day of "Los Inocentes"