Murcia's Top 10 Fiestas and Festivals

Many celebrations are outlandish affairs in Spain, and none more so than in Murcia, a region that likes to swoop into fiesta frenzy at the merest hint of a commemoration, anniversary or bygone tradition.

However, many of the more raucous affairs do have a solid reason behind their existence. Here are the most notable Top 10:

Epiphany/Reyes
Where: All over the region, but the biggest parades are in Murcia and Cartagena
When: January 6th

Representing the arrival of the three wise men, the 6th of January is when Spanish children are given their Christmas presents. Most of the larger towns host evening celebrations with floats and fireworks. The three kings parade through the streets throwing sweets to the excited children.

Carnival
Where: Aguilas and throughout the region
When: February/March

A week of good-humoured debauchery, stunning costumes, live music and Carnival Queen Election parades. Most town and villages host carnival parties but the most colourful is held in Aguilas.

Easter Week
Where: Murcia
When: March

Holy Week in Murcia is characterised by a sequence of processions ranging from the light-hearted to the positively sombre. Sweets are handed out to bystanders when the gaily-dressed Nazarenes take to the streets with their huge bellies stuffed with candy, biscuits and hard boiled eggs. At the other end of the scale, the Silent Procession is just that, an eerily emotive parade held on the Thursday, followed by the most important procession – the Salzillo - which starts early morning on Good Friday.

Burial of the Sardine
Where: Murcia
When: March

Traditionally this surreal event marks the end of carnival week in other parts of Spain, but in Murcia this parade takes place at the end of the week following Holy Week. A huge effigy of a sardine is paraded through the city accompanied by various groups parodying the nation’s politicians. At the end, the fish is thrown onto a huge bonfire accompanied by a massive firework display and a street party that often runs right through until the next morning.

Spring Festival
Where: Murcia
When: April

A few days after Easter, residents from the surrounding area converge on the city dressed in regional costumes representative of their villages, serving traditional Murcian fayre and parading through the city on colourful floats.

Festival of the Holy Cross
Where: Caravaca de la Cruz
When: May

Thousands gather at the beginning of May to cheer on rider-less horses as they race through the town up to the castle. This fiesta dates back to the mid 13th century when templar knights would carry wine across land occupied by the Moors to those guarding the relic of the True Cross.

International Music Festival of the Mediterranean
Where: Cartagena and throughout the region
When: July

Billed as one of Spain’s most prestigious classical music events, musicians and dancers from all over the world have participated in this annual festival since its conception in 1998.

Cante de las Minas Flamenco Festival
Where: La Unión
When: August

Some of Spain’s most famous flamenco performers converge in this mining town for a 10-day orgy of passionate singing, dancing and guitar playing culminating in the crowning of the Spain’s best flamenco performers.

Feria de Murcia
Where: Murcia
When: September

The first fortnight in September sees the city of Murcia transformed into one huge fairground with bullfights, music festivals, golf tournaments, dance shows, parades and lots of other general mayhem including the Moors and Christians Festival with its sword fights, sieges and mock battles.

Carthaginians and Romans Festival
Where: Cartagena
When: Sept

It might look like just one big toga party, but this commemoration of the time when Cartagena was conquered by the Romans is one of the city’s most important celebrations. Re-enactments of the battles take place complete with costumes and replica weaponry and culminating in a huge parade on the Saturday when all the troops and legions march through the city. A Roman circus and the ‘wedding’ of Hannibal and Himilce are some of the highlights to look out for.