Costa Cálida - Festivities and events

The Region of Murcia has 6 Festivities declared of National Tourist Interest and 31 Festivities of Regional Interest. A long festivity calendar begins with the sounds of tambourines and bandurrias (lute) at the Cuadrillas de Animas Festival in Barranda, on the last Sunday in January.

Among the most noteworthy festivities of the Region of Murcia are:

Holy Week

Holy Week is one of the most important and popular festivities of the region:

• In Murcia, some highlight are the popular processions where the Nazarenes distribute sweets to the spectators, and the beautiful statues of Francisco Salzillo.
• Cartagena is distinguished for the luxurious robes worn by the Brotherhoods of the Marrojos and Californios.
• Holy Week in Lorca is known for the originality of the biblical-passion parades and the competition among the Brotherhoods of the Whites and Blues.
• This time of the year is famous for the noisy drumming that accompany the celebrations in Mula and Moratalla for several days.

Spring Festivals

This festivity culminates in the Murcia capital with the Spring Festivals:

• On the Huerta Edict’s day, thousands of people wearing the typical costume from Murcia accompany the great parade that passes through the city.
• The grand finale to the festivities is the colourful Sardine Burial, where hundreds of toys are distributed from floats adorned with allusions to the gods of Olympus.

May Festivities

The month of May has celebrations in different parts of Murcia:

• The sumptuous Moors and Christians Parades in Abanilla
• Scenes made of cloth puppets, scattered throughout the streets of Alhama for the Mayos celebration
• During the Virgin Mary and Vera Cruz Festivities in Caravaca is a well attended exhibition commemorating an event that took place in the XIII century. It stars luxurious horses harnessed in velvet and silk embroidery (The Horses of the Wine).

Summer Celebrations

Summer also offers a large number of festivities:

• The maritime processions in honour of the Virgin of Carmen occurs in several coastal locations.
• The Grape Harvest celebration in Jumilla that begins by stepping on the first grapes of the season.
• This is also the time for the Theatre and Music Festivals in San Javier, La Union and Los Alcazares

Pilgrimages and Autumn Festivities

• Moors and Christians Parades and the Mediterranean Folk Festival inaugurate autumn in the capital city, during the September Fair.
• Meanwhile, legions of Carthaginians and Romans confront each other in the streets of Cartagena, commemorating the siege of the city by the Roman troops of Scipio in the year 209 BC.
• In September there is a Pilgrimage in honour of the patron Virgin of Murcia that attracts a mass congregation to arrive to the Fuensanta Sanctuary
• The Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of Hope in Calasparra
• The Festivities in honour of Saint Clemente in Lorca
• And in the month of October, the Moors and Christians Parades in Santomera

During Christmas

At the end of the year are the Festivities in honour of the Virgin Mary in Yecla resound with the noisy harquebus gun shots. Las Cuadrillas de Animas and Las Campanas de Auroros groups announce the start of Christmas singing their carols along the Huerta garden paths.

Another popular tradition in the towns of Aledo and Churra is the Enactment of Eucharistic Plays, interpreted by the residents on January 6th, the Day of the Kings.