Fiestas in Murcia
Holidays are not just honoured in Spain, they are CELEBRATED
There are dozens upon dozens of festivals celebrated throughout Murcia each year. Some of the major ones are listed below.
January
In early January, Murcia (city) celebrates Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings). It's great for kids – during the grand parades, presents are thrown to adoring children lining the route.
February
Carnival takes grip in much of Spain in February, and Murcia is no exception – enjoy! For the biggest celebration in Murcia, head to the coastal community of Águilas.
April
Easter is great time to be in Murcia. The town of Lorca is known to host the most fervent and vibrant Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations and processions in the entire nation. Unlike the slow and solemn Easter processions seen in other parts of Spain, Lorca's is truly alive thanks to the friendly but intense rivalry between its two brotherhoods, the Blanco and the Azul.
Cartagena's Semana Santa celebration is also unique, with emotive processions and elegantly embroidered costumes.
May
Each May 3 Caravaca de la Cruz's celebrates the festivities of The Holy Cross. On the eve of this holy celebration is the fiesta of Caballos del Vino (The Horses of Vino). Unbelievably clad horses are paraded and raced up to the castle. It's truly a colourful spectacle.
July
The village of Totana in the Sierra Espuña hosts fiestas in honour of their Patron Saint Santiago Apóstol between the 23rd and 25th of July each year. The fiestas are marked by cultural events, including the celebrated Certamen Internacional de Habaneras, which is a fabulous choir competition. Religious celebrations also play a large part, especially the procession of Santiago Apóstol.
Also in July is the Maritime Pilgrimage in Honour of the Virgin of the Song. It takes place in San Pedro del Pinatar.
Each July, San Javier hosts the popular San Javier International Jazz Festival.
August
The mining town of La Unión near Cartagena hosts the Cante de las Minas (Song of the Mines) each August. This is one of the world's largest flamenco festivals, with well-know singers as well as young artists.
September
From the first Friday of the month until the Monday, 10 days later, Murcia (city) celebrate the Fiestas de Septiembre. During this period, there is a grand fair for all ages. Expect concerts as well as the heralded bull fights. On the second Tuesday of the month, Murcia also celebrates Romería de la Fuensanta. The silent parade honours the Virgin Fuensanta and proceeds from the Catedral de Santa María to a church in the surrounding mountains.
During the second half of the month the Carthaginians and Romans Festival erupts in Cartagena. It's held to commemorate Hasdrubal's founding of the city in 223 BC and the fall of Carthago Nova to the Romans in 209 BC. If you attend you'll see thousands of locals garbed in the attire of Carthaginian troops, Roman legions and other personalities from that historic period. There's also Roman circus to go with all the revelling.
December
Totana hosts the Fiestas in honour of Santa Eulalia on the 8th, 9th and 10th of December each year. The festival begins with a pilgrimage to the mountain retreat of San Roque. An image of Santa Eulalila is carried all the way and then taken to Iglesia de Santiago, where a formal procession takes place. The Romería de la Santa, which is the procession that sees the image of Santa Eulalia brought back to Totana takes place on January 7th.
You’d enjoy the parties more if you lived here. Check out our Murcia Properties and see if any of them appeal to you, you might be surprised at how little they can cost.
