January is a month that can end up feeling too long and sometimes even sad. One of the happiest times of the year has just finished (Christmas), and most people must go back to their jobs. As a side effect of these weeks of joy they have to bear on their shoulders both the economic weight and, due to those delicious Christmas dishes, the caloric weight caused by these festivities.
Some even embrace the theory of the Blue Monday, which places the saddest (statistically speaking) day of the year as the third Monday in January.
However, as everything that rises must one day fall, all that falls usually gets back on its feet again. A good example of this may be the month of February, which is full of rather intense festivities like the different Carnivals that take place all throughout the Region of Murcia.
In these celebrations, no expenses are spared, as all is worth the rekindle those spirits wounded by the long month of January.
For this reason we have decided to focus these few pages in informing you about how you can enjoy these celebrations, which origin goes back to ancient Greece. Below you will find some of the most relevant carnivals in the Autonomous Community of Murcia.
The Carnival in Aguilas may well be the most famous in the Region. The inhabitants of this coast town spend the weeks previous to the Lent crafting their majestic costumes and preparing endless details that make the carnival in Aguilas an event you cannot miss.
Contests, prices, day and night carnivals, important people running through the streets of Aguilas; the ordinary magically turns into festive, ironic, burlesque, and humour in order to let those who participate enjoy before entering the Lent.
This year the elected crier has been the famous Venezuelan singer Carlos Baute. He will be in charge of speaking the traditional street cry next Saturday (February 6th) from the balcony of the consistory in Aguilas.
Even though several activities have taken place already, the most important ones start during the upcoming weekend (6th-7th of February). That is why below these paragraphs we have detailed the schedule for the remaining carnival activities.
Due to the high number of activities you may have to travel several times to the city to enjoy the festivals at their full extent.
Sunday, 7th of February
18.00 h FIRST GREAT PARADE OF BANDS AND FLOATS
Monday, 8th of February
00.00 h NIGHT CARNIVAL
Location: Plaza de España
Tuesday, 9th of February
18.00 h SECOND GREAT PARADE OF BANDS AND FLOATS
Thursday, 11th of February
Variety of Carnival Events
Friday, 12th of February
18.00 h 21st NATIONAL CONTEST OF EXTERNAL CARNIVAL BANDS
Saturday, 13th of February
18.00 h THIRD GREAT PARADE OF BANDS AND FLOATS
00.00 h DON CARNAL’S ‘QUEMA’ (burning) AND FIREWORKS
Location: Puerto de Poniente, after the charade
00.00 h PRIZE AWARDS
Location: Plaza de España, after DON CARNAL’S ‘QUEMA’
Saturday, 20th of February
21.00 h NATIONAL DRAG QUEEN CONTEST
Location: ‘Infanta Doña Elena’ auditorium
Sunday, 21st of February
21.00 h 1st NATIONAL CHIRIGOTA CONTEST
Location: ‘Infanta Doña Elena’ auditorium
We have already commented in previous articles how the city of Cartagena has greatly increased in terms of touristic interest throughout the last few years. It is no surprise that the Cartagena Carnival has followed the same trend. A testament to this is that it has been recently declared a festival of regional touristic interest.
The celebrations of this coastal city started last 30th of January. This means that next weekend is the last one in which you can enjoy the celebrations and the most important carnival events in Cartagena such as the parades and the Chirigota (traditional Spanish joke songs) contest.
Below you can find the schedule from next Friday onwards.
Friday, 5th of February
11.00 h SCHOOL PARADE
Starting point: Town hall square
Itinerary: ‘Mayor’, ‘San Sebastián’ Square, ‘Puertas de Murcia’, ‘Carmen’
20.00 and 23.30 h 14th REGIONAL CHIRIGOTA CONTEST ‘CIUDAD DE CARTAGENA’ – GRAND FINALS
Location: ‘El Batel’ Auditorium
Get your tickets in advance from: Teatro Circo, ‘El Batel’ Auditoriom, and the web ticketmaster
Saturday, 6th of February
12.00 h CHIRIGOTAS
Location: ‘San Francisco’ Square, ‘Icue’ Square and ‘San Sebastián’ Square
17.00 h GATHERING OF CARNIVAL BANDS, CHIRIGOTAS AND CHOREOGRAPHY BANDS
Location: Alameda de San Antón.
18.00 h CHARADE START
Itinerary: ‘Alameda de San Antón’, ‘Plaza de España’ towards ‘Paseo de Alfonso XIII’, ‘Paseo Alfonso XIII’, ‘Juan Fernández’, ‘Juan XXIII’, ‘Santa Florentina’, ‘Carmen’, ‘Tolosa Latour’, ‘Sagasta’, ‘Puerta de Murcia’, Mayor y Town hall Square
22.00 h LIVE MUSIC
Location: ‘San Francisco’ Square.
Sunday, 7th of February
12.00 h SHOW FOR CHILDREN
Location: ‘Juan XXIII’ Square
12.00 h CHIRIGOTAS
Location: ‘San Francisco’, ‘Icue’ and ‘San Sebastián’ Square.
13.00 h COSTUME CONTEST FOR CHILDREN
Location: ‘Juan XXIII’ Square
14.00 h GIANT PAELLA
Location: Port Esplanade
18.00 h ‘UNA RUBIA MUY LEGAL’ (Legally Blonde) MUSICAL
Location:’El Batel’ auditorium.
The funds raised will be completely donated to the city’s charities
Donation: 10 €.
Get your tickets in advance from: Teatro Circo, ‘El Batel’ Auditoriom, and the web ticketmaster
Tuesday, 9th of February
22.00 h PRIZE AWARDS
23.55 h FAREWELL TO ‘DON CARNAVAL’ AND ‘QUEMA’ WITH FIREWORKS
Location: ‘Wssell de Guimbarda’ Sports hall
It is amazing to see how a little district becomes well known all throughout the Region due to its celebrations. It may not be easy to find citizens that can give you directions to the small and quiet district of Cabezo de Torres. However, any resident of the Region who is asked about it will no doubt immediately relate the name to the Carnival Festival held in the district during these dates.
The origins of Cabezo de Torres’ Carnivals, as we know them today, date back to 1911-1912. According to several publications the first carnival band became known during these years. Prior to that the inhabitants of the district would cover their faces with masks and, taking advantage of their anonymity, they would play tricks on the rest of their neighbours.
If you want to know more about the festivities of this district, which is close to the capital, do not hesitate to drive to the area. Below you can find the schedule of the activities that will take place starting this weekend.
Friday, 5th of February
16.00 h CHILD PARADE
21.00 h STREET CRY CEREMONY (Crier: Eduardo Gómez (Spanish TV actor))
Saturday, 6th of February
23.30 h DRAG QUEEN CEREMONY
Sunday, 7th of February
12.00 h CHILDREN’S COSTUMES
16.30 h 1st GREAT PARADE
20.00 h OPENING OF THE CARNIVAL CARP
Monday, 8th of February
16.30 h 2nd GREAT PARADE
Tuesday, 9th of February
16.30 h 3rd GREAT PARADE
Friday, 12nd of February
20.30 h ‘PLANTÁ’ (placing) OF THE CARNIVAL MASK AND PARADE
Saturday, 13th of February
16.30 h 4th GREAT PARADE
Even if these are not the most famous of the Carnivals throughout Murcia, due to their proximity to Roda Beach & Golf Resort, we have thought it interesting to include a reference to the Carnivals in Los Alcazares. If you don’t feel like travelling throughout the Region, this Festival may pose an interesting option. You can use it as a sort of introduction to these customs and, if they lighten your curiosity, you can always visit the greater Carnivals next year, or you can even take part (if you have not already) in the Carnivals at Los Alcazares.
The program for the Carnival at Los Alcazares is the following:
Sunday, 7th of February
17.00 h CARNIVAL PARADE
From Varazú roundabout to Town Hall
19.30 h CARNIVAL CEREMONY AND CONTEST AWARDS
Location: Town Hall Square
Monday, 8th of February
16.00 h CARNAVAL PARTY WITH HOT CHOCOLATE
Location: Housewife Associations Headquarters
Tuessay, 9th of February
16.00 h CARNIVAL PARTY WITH PIÑATA
Location: Senior Centre ‘Adolfo López’
17.30 h CARNIVAL OPEN TO EVERYBODY
Location: Lugar: Civic Centre in Los Narejos
Friday, 26th of February
18.00 h CARNIVAL FOR EURORESIDENTS
Location: Municipal Centre ‘Las Claras del Mar Menor’
OTHER CARNIVALS
As you may have already guessed, the Carnival in Murcia is not just a Festival delimited to the cities and districts mentioned above. Many locations throughout the Region organize Carnival Festivals and get to the streets with their most fabulous costumes. If you are interested in knowing information about locations that celebrate Carnivals in the Autonomous Community of Murcia, do visit this link.
WHAT ABOUT LOVE?
February not only brings us Carnivals, but also the day internationally chosen to celebrate love: Valentine’s Day. You may feel a little overwhelmed with so much celebration in so little time. Perhaps you can find a perfect solution to all of it in the idea that we have brought you below in which you can mix both festivities.
In this option, you can to take a ride on the Mar Menor Ferry on Valentine’s day with your family. The ship sets sail from the ‘Tomás Maestre’ harbour in La Manga, and arrives at Santiago de la Ribera at 16:30, this way you can see part of the Carnival parade (declared of touristic interest) until 18:00, time at which the ferry sets sail back to La Manga.
The seats are limited and you must book before the 11th of February. Remember that if you show up in costume you will receive a welcome gift.
Price 17€ adults, 8.50€ children
For more information you can visit their webpage
If you wish to book, do not hesitate to call +34 649201610 or +34 666972596 as soon as possible.
We hope you enjoy these festivities!!