Spring Festival Murcia

With the smell of candles and the excitement of Easter still present in the streets of the city, begins one of the most anticipated weeks for the people of Murcia: we are talking about the Spring Festival. 

For seven days, Murcia is filled with noise, color and the smell of flowers that invites citizens and visitors to discover and enjoy the many activities that take place in every corner of the city.

The festivities begin on Sunday with the inauguration of the Entorno Huertano in Santiago and Zaraiche followed by the opening of the Ventorrillo and Las Barracas. Spread throughout the gardens of the city and in the headquarters of the huertano clubs themselves, here you can taste the typical huertano food such as Michirones, Zarangollo, sausages of the Region or the typical paparajote, but beware of the leaf!

On Monday afternoon, the youngsters take center stage, as it is the turn of the Children's Bando, where the little ones have their own parade. Dressed in traditional costumes, they walk through the city accompanied by groups of choirs and dances, giving joy to all who come to see them.

BANDO DE LA HUERTA

From very early on Tuesday morning, the gardens and main streets of the city are filled with "huertanos" dressed in the typical regional costume, filling the city with hustle and bustle and color. It is the day of "El Bando de la Huerta", one of the big days of the Spring Festival and the party par excellence of the Murcians. In the afternoon takes place the famous parade of the "Bando de la Huerta".. Declared of International Tourist Interest for the quality of its parade, its originality and its historical context, it pays tribute to Murcian agriculture. In it we can appreciate, participate and enjoy their traditions and customs: carts and farm animals roam the streets of the city to the rhythm of "jotas" sung and danced by folk groups and peñas huertanas that from floats throw garden products and drinks to the spectators. 

And for the party animals from 11 am until 10 pm in La Fica you can enjoy La Repanocha . An event of free access until full capacity that will feature Foodtrucks and DJs.

The Bando de la Huerta, every year brings together thousands of inhabitants from all over the Region and numerous visitors from inside and outside Spain.

BATTLE OF FLOWERS

Another plan that you can enjoy this week, on Thursday afternoon, is the Parade of the Battle of Flowers. In it you can see the spectacle generated by the multitude of floats decorated with natural flowers that burst into the streets. In addition to the colorful stamp of the floats, the launching of more than 200,000 flowers will create a unique atmosphere of spectacular colors and scents. The floats that will participate in the parade will remain during the morning in different squares of the city, where they will be decorated before the passers-by by different florists and there they will remain exposed until the moment of the parade. 

In the middle of the week the "sardineros the "sardineros", starting with the "Entierro de la Sardina Infantil".starting with the Burial of the Children's Sardine. This is an adapted version, for children, of the big parade on Saturday. Until that day the streets of Murcia are filled with music, joy and merriment of the hand of the 'Sardineros' that go through the main streets with parades, giving away whistles and luminous contraptions to all present. Besabé Street (next to Santo Domingo Square) becomes the Sardinero Space, a place that will host numerous activities and children's workshops for families, live performances by great DJ's and various concerts throughout the day.

BURIAL OF THE SARDINE

On Friday night takes place the reading of the Testament by Doña Sardina, who, from the balcony of the Town Hall, comments with great humor the facts of current political and social events. It is a satirical act that attracts many onlookers and where there is no shortage of laughter.

The finishing touch to the week of the Spring Festival is the Burial of the Sardine, of pagan origin, which, contrary to what happens in other latitudes, celebrates the victory of Don Carnal over Doña Cuaresma. During the morning of Saturday the streets of the city are filled with joy with parades in which the comparsas and sardine groups warm up engines for the night parade.

The night arrives and the most awaited moment by all: The Great Parade of the Burial of the Sardine, this celebration declared of International Tourist Interest in which it is common each year to parade several groups from other countries that come from anywhere on the planet, making this party an increasingly plural and open celebration. 

The parade begins with a carnival parade with giants, big heads, troupes and brass bands, followed by the original floats inspired by the gods of Greco-Latin mythology, from where the sardineros hand out thousands of toys to the public throughout the route, something that drives the audience crazy, especially the children.

After the Parade all the sardineros join the spectators in the Plaza Martínez Tornel for the Burning of the Sardine, which puts an end to the Spring Festivities with a spectacular fireworks display, but are also the starting point to prepare for next year's festivities.

Among the wide variety of events taking place throughout the city during this week, it is worth mentioning the Primavera Sardinera concert at the Artillery Barracks, where Lori Meyes, Vera fauna, Aníbal Gómez Dj among others will perform, or the Spring Concert Series at the Circo Theater.

In addition, during the festivities, you can enjoy beautiful boat rides on the Segura for the price of 1 euro.

For those who come from outside, the city council has enabled free park-and-ride parking lots at key points of the city and has extended the streetcar and city bus service, with a night service for the days of the Bando de la Huerta and the Burial of the Sardine, when the events last until the wee hours of the morning. These lines will cover routes between Murcia and the districts, will have a fixed timetable and will be free of charge.

In short, Murcia's Spring Festival is much more than a festive celebration. They are a manifestation of the identity, culture and tradition of this welcoming city, an opportunity to gather, celebrate and enjoy all that Murcia has to offer its citizens and visitors.

Don't let them tell you, Murcianea and enjoy the spring!