Festivals

The Balearics have a lively tradition of festivals and popular holidays. Especially during spring and summer time all villages celebrate their own patron. The tourist offices on the islands give out yearly programs with local celebrations. The most national and religious holidays take place in Majorca. In Menorca horses and their riders are very important and present at all festivals. During Holy week, Christmas and New Years many parades and traditional festivities take place everywhere on the islands. Other religious holidays are also celebrated and visitors are always welcome to join in with the locals. Following is a list of the most important festivals on the different islands.

January

All the islands: the 5th January is the start of Los Reyes Magos, celebrated in all Spain. The Spanish celebrate this more exuberantly than Christmas, families come together and children get presents. From the harbor of Palma de Majorca a cavalry procession goes through the city accompanied by fireworks and in Menorca the three kings arrive by boat in the capital Maó and the next day they hand out small presents to the children.

Ibiza: During the first two weeks of the month the village Sant Antoni de Portmany celebrates the Festival de Sa Nostra Terra, with traditional balls, music and songs.

Majorca: The 16th January the island celebrates the Revetlla de Sant Antoni. When the night falls, the people of the villages Artà, Manacor, Sant Joan and Sa Pobla lit enormous bonfires and in Sa Pobla you can try the culinary specialty “espinagades”.

Menorca: The 17th Januray the city of Ciutadella celebrates the liberation of the island by Alfons III.

February

During this month Majorca and Ibiza celebrate carnival. Several parades with floats, giants and demons take place in Palma de Majorca and its surroundings for the carnival of Sa. The best places to celebrate carnival in Ibiza are Ibiza city and Sant Miquel de Balansat.

March / April

Either in March or April on Thursday and Good Friday before Easter there are several processions in Majorca and Ibiza, like the ones in Palma de Majorca and Sineu or the nocturnal one in Pollença.

May

Ibiza: On the 1st Sunday a popular fiesta takes place in Santa Eulària des Riu. There are carriages decorated with flowers, a fair and several sportive competitions.

Majorca: On the 2nd Sunday the festival of Moors and Christians takes place in Soller. This event commemorates the victory of the Christians over the Turkish pirates in 1561. The battlefield from back then is being called back to live by the locals who perform in the original costumes from that time. This is festival is quite important for the locals and very spectacular to see.

June

All the islands: From the night of the 23rd to 24th the Balearics and also the Catalonian mainland celebrate the beginning of the summer. The festes de Sant Joan in Ciutadella in Menorca are one of the most spectacular festivities on the islands and thousands of visitors come to Menorca every year to take part in the cavalcades that are famous throughout Spain. During this festival there are fireworks everywhere on the islands, from sunset till sunrise.

Majorca: On the 29th the Festes patronals de Sant Pere take place in Palma, Port d’Alcúdia and Port d’Andratx. In these towns there are several processions, both over land and at sea along the coast.

July

Ibiza: The first two weeks the famous jazz festival of Ibiza takes place.

Ibiza and Formentera: On the 16th these two islands praise la Senyora del Carme, Saint of shippers and navy men. In Ibiza the maritime processions take place in Ibiza city and Es Cubells, In Formentera they are in Es Pujols and La Savina. Besides processions there are also several naval competitions in Formentera.

August

Ibiza: From the 4th till the 8th Ibiza celebrates the fiesta patronal de Nostra Senyora de les Neus and the commemoration of the Christians taking over the Island again.

Ibiza: On the 24th the Festes de Sant Bartomeu take place in Sant Antoni de Portmany with spectacular shows and sportive competitions.

September

Ibiza: On the 8th the Fiestas de Jesús in Santa Eulària des Riu take place with traditional dances and songs.

Ibiza: On the 29th it’s the Patron Festival of Sant Miquel de Balansat, with dances, fairs and jog races.

October

Majorca: On the first Sunday it’s Torrada des botifarró in Sant Joan. One can taste the typical cold meat and enjoy the regional dances on traditional music around the bonfires.

November

Majorca: On the second Sunday it’s Dijous Bo in the village of Inca. This is the most important festivity of the region.

December

Formentera: On the 3rd it’s the Fiesta de Sant Francesc. A traditional open oven is placed on the church square and traditional hog products are being roasted in it. This celebration of the beginning of the winter has a traditional atmosphere with only few tourists, so it’s a great opportunity to experience the authentic island life.

Majorca: On the 30th, just before the end of the year Palma de Majorca celebrates la Festa de l’Estendard. This national holiday in Majorca commemorates the coming of the troops of Jaume I who defeated the Moors.