Carnival erupts in different parts of Spain. The most famous and iconic Spanish carnival celebrations are those of Cádiz, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. But they are also celebrated in other parts of Spain.
And those parties are also worth discovering. The start and end dates are different, so there is plenty of choice. In Águilas, the party starts on February 2nd (today).
Carnival of Águilas
The Águilas Carnival is a festival of international tourist interest. It has been celebrated here for more than 200 years. Furthermore, it has since become Murcia’s most famous carnival party.
The celebration, from February 2 to 24, 2024, begins with the release of the Mussona, half human, half animal creature. Mussona walks through the streets, continues the battle between Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma. When Don Carnal is burned at the stake, the party is unofficially over. In addition to various parades and floats, there are also all kinds of activities.
Badajoz Carnival
The Badajoz Carnival has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 2022. From 9 to 18 February, the city in Extremadura will undergo a total change. That’s when most residents take to the streets dressed up. This is a mass of colour, imagination and creativity.
Locals have been celebrating this event there for more than 40 years, and the festival attracts many visitors every year. They come from Spain as well as from other countries. You can enjoy the music, dance and decoration.
Carnival in Castilla en León
The interior of Spain is also rich in carnival traditions. In Castilla y León, the carnivals of Cebreros (Ávila) and La Bañeza (León) festivals are of national tourist interest. Four carnivals in Castilla-La Mancha are also on this list. They are Villarobledo, in Albacete, and Herencia, Miguelturra and Alcázar de San Juan, in Ciudad Real.
In Cebreros there is a party from 9 to 18 February. There are floats and parades with children and adults in colourful costumes. Carnival songs are popular and there is dancing. Of course, the typical handmade sweets such as rosquillas and mantecados are in abundance.
You can also party in La Bañeza. The inhabitants also outside parade hours and even at work in carnival costume. The grand parade, the carnival race, the floats, the brass bands, the witches’ night and the funeral of the sardine are the main events of the program, which runs from February 9 to 17.
Carnival in Castilla-La Mancha
In Castilla-La Mancha, the Carnival of Villarrobledo stands out, with a murga and chirigotas contest and the parade of local groups and groups. There is children’s carnival, the night carnival and there are weddings. During these festivities, which take place from 8 to 18 February, the people of Villarrobleda put their land and traditions in the spotlight, including the Manchego Pride Day. To combat the hangover, there is porridge and bacon on ‘hangover Sunday’.
Carnaval in Ciudad Real
But if there is a province where carnival celebrations have gained a special notoriety, it is Ciudad Real. The Carnival of Miguelturra is from 9 to 18 February. Characteristic is the street mask, whose wearers make jokes and provoke while hiding their faces with a cloth. In addition, the parades of floats or the candy contest are also special.
The Alcázar de San Juan Carnival has been celebrated in December for two hundred years (from 15 to 28 in 2023). This partly coincides with Christmas. Residents hang onesies from their balconies or windows to cover and burn them later. In addition, there are parades of floats, groups and masks and there is a children’s event.
Finally, the carnival of Herencia is distinguished by the Perlé. This white and blue striped character walks the streets of the city. He tries in vain to impose his authority with his symbolic whip. The party runs from February 3 to 14. There are parades, parades, brass bands and singing groups (chirigotas), among others.
