The Murcian enthusiasm for Fiestas rivals the Madrileños (Madrid inhabitants). Each town or village has its own Patrimonio day, which you can find by looking on a calendar.
You can read through the town guides to find specific fiestas but below are some of the more well-known ones of the region.
January
Los Reyes – the Three Wise Men – on 6th January the Spanish children receive their Christmas gifts. Most towns and villages will do something special in social clubs and town squares. Murcia and Cartagena have extra special fiestas. Look out for the televised celebrations of Madrid with massive floats, and the three kings parading through the city.
Carnaval de Águilas – Águilas
Fiestas de San Sebastián – Ricote
February
Carnaval – Cabezo de Torres
Carnaval – Cartagena
Carnaval – Mar Menor – San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier and Los Alcázares alternately
San Blas de San Javier Romeria – San Javier
March
Semana Santa – Easter Week – being a mainly Catholic country, Easter is a huge celebration. All towns and villages will hold celebrations, with at least 3 or 4 working days lost. Some of the best festivities can be found in Cartagena, Jumilla, Murcia and Moratalla.
April
Fiesta de la Primavera (Spring festival) in Murcia includes: Bando de la Huerta (Orchard procession) and Entierra de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardine)
May
Santisima y Vera Cruz – Caravaca
June
Jazz Festival – San Javier
Feria Sevillana – Mar Menor
San Juan – all towns and villages
July
Jazz Festival – San Javier
Virgen Del Carmen – Cartagena
Santiago Apostle – Cartagena
August
San Gines de la Jara Procession – San Gines
Festival of International Theatre, Music and Dance – San Javier
Mar Menor Folk Festival – San Pedro del Pinatar and Lo Pagán
Fiesta de la Vendimia in Jumilla with a wine fountain to celebrate the wine harvest.
September
Murcia September Fair: Moors & Christians – Murcia
“Tunas” Folk Music Festival – Murcia
Mediterranean Folklore Festival – Murcia
Romans & Carthaginians – Cartagena
October
Regional Horse Fair – Caravaca
November
Romería de San Clemente – Lorca
December
Fiestas Mayores – San Javier
Tours of the Natives (Belenes) – Yecla
How to Fiesta
Fiestas are serious business in Murcia. It’s important that you know when your local fiesta ( fiesta patronal) is – check in your local teleclub or bar. Preparations start weeks in advance (depending upon the scale of the celebrations intended) with roles assigned for many of the villagers.
Usually the festivities are spread over a week or even more, with a program of activities planned. In many bars you’ll find a guide to these activities along with lots of adverts from local traders.
For larger fiestas, the lights will go up in the streets a few weeks ahead, and often a marquee will be erected in the town square. Sometimes there will be competitions – football, sport, fruit and vegetable growing and, of course, the paella cooking.
Never expect evening festivities to begin much before 10pm or finish much earlier than 6am.
This is an extract from A Brit's Scrapbook: Going Native In Murcia by Debbie Jenkins and Marcus Jenkins. It is a comprehensive guide to investing, holidaying and living in Murcia and the Costa Cálida.
