Carnival in Spain!

The carnival has been going on for weeks in some places in Spain, but the real carnival will start the first weekend of March. The most famous parts of the carnival in Spain are the miss and mr elections, drag queen and singing competitions, concerts and of course the parades. Below a short overview of some famous carnival places with their 'rúas'.

Barcelona

Carnival is celebrated in Barcelona between Thursday, February 20 and Tuesday, February 25. There will be a tortilla baking competition on February 20 (Dijous Gras), but parades will be held from Friday. That starts on Friday, February 21 at 6:30 pm with the 'El petit Carnavalassu' for the children. On Saturday the 'Carnavalassu del Gòtic' parade takes place from 6.30 pm from the Plaza Vuit de Març. On Wednesday 26 February at 5.30 pm the carnival with the 'Enterrament de la Sardina' will officially end in the Barceloneta district. But there are more parades in the different neighborhoods of the Catalan capital.

Sitges

The inhabitants of Sitges are not averse to a party and therefore the carnival is celebrated exuberantly in this Catalan place just below Barcelona. The party has already started earlier this year, but the weekend of 22, 23 and Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 February are full of activities including the famous parades and the bed race. On Friday, February 21 from 6:30 pm, one can enjoy the "Rua d'Antes" parade, a nostalgic parade of the carnival through the years. On Saturday 22 February from 12 noon the 'Carrera de camas disfrazadas' will take place, a true spectacle that is actually a bed race.

On Sunday 23 February from 12 noon the parents and everyone can enjoy the children in the 'Rua Infantil' or the children's procession. However, the big parade called 'Rua de la Disbauxa' takes place at 7.30 p.m. But the really famous procession of Sitges is the 'Rua del Extermini' that takes place on Tuesday 25 February. It is as if Rio de Janeiro has come to Sitges!

Tarragona

The Catalan city of Tarragona is known for the carnival and from far and wide people come to this city to watch the parade. More than 45,000 spectators will watch the 'La Rua de l'Artesania' parade that starts at 5.30 p.m. in the center of the city on Saturday 22 February.

But on Saturday there are many more smaller parades for children and also dress up competitions. On Saturday morning at 11 a.m. the Baixada i Pujada del Pajaritu is also held, a competition with which decorated platforms in different forms have to ride down and up again.

Vinaros

The coastal town of Vinaros in the province of Castellón in the autonomous community of Comunidad Valenciana is known for its exuberant carnival. Here too the carnival has been going on for some time, but it is also this weekend that the peak is reached with the parades.

The children's parade takes place on Friday 21 February and on Saturday 22 February from 6 pm one can enjoy the 'Gran Desfilada del Carnaval'. Incidentally, this procession is repeated on Sunday for those who missed the Saturday edition. The parade also starts at 6 pm on Sundays.

Valencia

Also in Valencia (a week before the Fallas parties) carnival is celebrated with parades, performances and many other activities during the 'Carnaval de Benimaclet'. On Friday, February 21, the children's parade starts at 6:30 pm and on Saturday, February 22 from 7 pm, the large carnival parade. Carnival was celebrated on Saturday 15 February in the Ruzafa district.

Alicante

Carnival is also celebrated in the city of Alicante with a parade or 'pasacalles' on Saturday 22 February between 7 and 9 p.m. On Tuesday, February 25, with the 'Juicio y Procesión del Pelete' celebrates from 9 pm and on Wednesday, February 26, from 9.30 pm the end of carnival is celebrated with the 'entierro de la sardina' or the burial of the sardine which marks the beginning of the Lent.

Águilas

In the city of Águilas in the south of the Murcia region, one of the most famous carnivals of the Spanish mainland is celebrated. Popular are the colorful parades with nicely dressed participants who go all out for it. Also known are the "cascarones", eggs filled with confetti and the "cuerva" drink, if you drink that the carnival animal will come out completely.

The first big parade takes place on Friday, February 21, followed by the first big parade on Sunday, February 23 from 6 pm. A second large parade will take place on Tuesday 25 February from 6 pm and the third large parade on Saturday 28 February from 6 pm. Águilas is known for the exuberant parades so you should not miss this if you are in the area.

Malaga

Carnival is also celebrated in the popular coastal town of Málaga. On Saturday 22 February, the carnival starts at 6.30 pm with a children's parade followed at 9 pm with a Drag Queen Contest. On Sunday, February 23, the big carnival parade starts in the center of Málaga at 5.30 p.m.

While this year's carnival coincides with the 'Día de Andalucía' on 28 February, the carnival continues with a parade on Saturday 29 February but the famous 'Gran Desfile de Dioses' through the old center of the city on Sunday 1 March at 12 noon . The same Sunday the carnival ends with the 'entierro de boquerón' at 5 pm.

Cadiz

Carnival is also celebrated in southern Spain and the city of Cádiz is perhaps best known for the carnival that takes place on the street and the singing groups of men and / or women. The latter in particular, the choirs (chirigotas) that with their cheerful and very humorous songs the politics, celebrities and anything and everything on the heel. To understand all that you have to master the Spanish language because they sing very fast and often with the typical dialect :). However, it is really fun to watch.

On Saturday 22 February a children's parade starts at 12 noon and the adults can listen to a concert by the Spanish singer David Palomar from 9:30 pm or go to the 'Gran Gala del Carnaval' later in the evening. On Sunday, February 23, the 'Carruseles de Coros' parade starts at 1 pm. This is not just a parade. On special cars are the choirs that play their humorous songs. Later on Sunday 23 February at 6 pm the large parade 'Gran Cabalgata' will start. But the festivities will continue in Cádiz until March 8.

Madrid

Carnival is also celebrated in the capital of Spain Madrid. Although not as long as in other places, on Saturday 22, Sunday 23 and Monday 24 February there are enough activities in Madrid to get into the carnival mood. On Friday evening, February 21, the carnival starts with a party with live music and lots of dance.

On Saturday, February 22, the parade will head through the streets of Madrid from 12 noon. Various activities and 'pasacalles' are held on February 23 between 10 am and 3 pm. On Wednesday 26 February the symbolic and typical 'entierro de la sardina' is celebrated in Madrid.

Las Palmas

Probably together with Tenerife the most famous carnival in Spain. It is as if Rio de Janeiro has come to Spain with a lot of salsa and rumba music and many colorful personalities. There are performances, fashion shows and of course the Miss and Mr elections including the Drag Queen parties ... the ladies / gentlemen who go on stage in very high heels. Many shows are broadcast live on Spanish television. The Carnival in Gran Canaria has already started on 7 February but will continue until 1 March. Regarding parades or 'cabalgatas' there have already been a few, but on Sunday 23 February the children's parade will take place in Las Palmas at 5 pm. The big parade 'Gran Cabalgata del Carnaval' will take place on Saturday 29 February from 6 pm. The carnival will be concluded with the 'entierro de la sardina' on Sunday 1 March.

The famous 'Drag Queen Gala' will take place on Monday 24 February at 9 pm, something that will be broadcast live on Spanish television.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

On the Gran Canaria neighboring island of Tenerife, the rio-like carnival is raging and it is a colorful procession of colored people who celebrate dancing. Here too, people are dressed as if it were Brazil and the cheerful Caribbean music also takes you to the tropical carnival. Also on Tenerife there are Mr and Miss competitions, performances and the typical Drag Queen parties. All in all a nice spectacle and also with nice warm weather, what does a good carnival celebrator want even more. The carnival on Tenerife has already started on January 24 and will end on Sunday March 1, just like on Gran Canaria. A parade takes place in the center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Friday 21 February from 8 p.m. The following days there are no parades anymore but on Wednesday 26 February the party will be closed with the 'entierro de la sardina'.