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The Carnival celebrations in Santiago de la Ribera, on the coast of the Mar Menor in the municipality of San Javier, are among the noisiest and most colourful in the Region of Murcia to celebrate the beginning of Lent (40 days before Easter), and this year the party includes a series of activities leading up to the Grand Carnival parade itself.
The celebrations begin in earnest on January 26 with a gala and fried egg dinner (!) and come to an end on February 18 with the grand parade. This is traditionally the last main Carnival parade in the Region, and the aim is to attract as many peñas (Carnival troupes) as possible from other areas for just one more quiver of that feather boa before it’s down to Lent and, supposedly, 40 days of abstinence.
Most of the events are focused on the large marquee set up in the Jardines Príncipe de Asturias, alongside the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias and close to the Explanada Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera, and although many of them are for the peñas participating in the Carnival, other events are open to anyone who wants to come along. The culmination of the whole celebration is the grand parade, which is a hugely popular event for expats and visitors to the municipality as well as those who live in San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera.
The schedule for Carnival 2024 in Santiago de la Ribera includes the following:
Friday January 26
21.00: Official presentation of the 2024 Carnival poster and a Fried Egg dinner at the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias. Tickets 13 euros.
Saturday February 10
22.00: Gala to choose the 2024 Carnival Queen at the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias.
Sunday February 11
12.00: Canine Carnival for pets and their owners on the Explanada Barnuevo.
17.30: Gala to choose the children’s 2024 Carnival Queen in the marquee outside the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias.
Tuesday February 13
17.30: Children’s Carnival party in the marquee outside the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias.
Wednesday February 14
17.30: Carnival party for local societies and associations in the marquee outside the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias.
Thursday February 15
22.00: Music from Chirigota groups in the marquee outside the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias.
Friday February 16
22.00: Gala to choose the Drag Queen of the 2024 Carnival in the marquee outside the Centro Cívico Príncipe de Asturias. Click here for further details.
Saturday February 17
12.00: Pasabares Carnavalero, a route visiting various local hostelries…
Sunday February 18
16.00: The Grand Carnival parade, starting in Avenida de la Aviación Española and heading for Explanada Barnuevo.
And such is the Carnival fervour in Santiago de la Ribera that plans are already being made for the Summer Carnival on August 3!!!
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of San Javier Today
Image: www.carnavaldelaribera.com
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
