February is Carnival time in our nearest town, Águilas

Spain is big on festivals and every town has it's own festival week. Our nearest town is Águilas, about 10 minutes away. This weekend see's the regatta at the harbour/marina - so we may see some of that tomorrow when we take a trip in after the market.

Then from the 18th February, Carnival week starts. Now, the only drawback to the Spanish festivals is some of them start so late at night - very often not until 11pm, so we are all going to need our siesta's in the afternoon in order to stay awake long enough to enjoy the parades. However, there will still be plenty to see if we decide to drive in.

One's to make an effort to see are:

FRIDAY 27TH: EXHIBITION OF CARNIVAL MAKE UP AND DRAG QUEEN CONTEST. 23.00 H. - Apparently this is a real scene to see.

SATURDAY 28TH: FOURTH CARNIVAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN AND IX NATIONAL COMPETITION OF CARNIVAL GROUPS

SEIZURE OF DON CARNAL IN THE PLAZA DE ESPANA FROM WHERE HE IS LED TO THE PONIENTE BEACH WERE HE IS EXECUTED BY FIRE. FOLLOWED BY A MAGNIFICENT FIREWORKS DISPLAY MARKING THE END OF THE CARNIVAL.

Time to get the camera batteries on charge I think!

Full list of events:

CARNIVAL FEBRUARY 2009


SUNDAY 15TH: “XV DUATHLON CARNIVAL OF AGUILAS” SPORT HARBOUR. 11.00 H. BOAT RACE. “VIII COMPETITION OF PAPER SUITS” FEDERATION OF PENAS

THURSDAY 19TH: “MUSSONA” PROCESSION FROM THE CASTLE TO PLAZA DE ESPANA 23.45 FIREWORKS 24.00 H.

FRIDAY 20TH: BATTLE BETWEEN CHILDREN SUPPORTERS OF DON CARNAL, DONA CUARESMA USING CONFETTI FILLED EGGSHELLS. INAUGURATION AND WELCOME SPEECHES BY A CELEBRITY, MUSA 2008 AND THE MAYOR. PLACE: PLAZA DE ESPANA. 21.30 H.
SALSA MUSIC FESTIVAL. PLAZA DE ESPANA 24.00 H.

SATURDAY 21ST: BATTLE BETWEEN ADULTS SUPPORTERS OF DON CARNAL, DONA CUAREMA USING CONFETTI FILLED EGGSHELLS. INAUGURATION AND WELCOME SPEECHES BY A CELEBRITY, MUSA 2008 AND THE MAYOR. PLACE: PLAZA DE ESPANA. 22.00 H.
SALSA MUSIC FESTIVAL. PLAZA DE ESPANA 24.00 H.

SUNDAY 22ND: FIRST CARNIVAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE MAIN STREETS OF THE TOWN BEGINNING AT 18.00 H.

MONDAY 23RD: SECOND CARNIVAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN. CARNIVAL CHOREOGRAPHY/DANCING COMPETITION. 17.00 H. NIGHTLY CARNIVAL COMPETITION

TUESDAY 24TH: THIRD CARNIVAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN 18.00 H.

FRIDAY 27TH: EXHIBITION OF CARNIVAL MAKE UP AND DRAG QUEEN CONTEST. 23.00 H.

SATURDAY 28TH: FOURTH CARNIVAL PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN AND IX NATIONAL COMPETITION OF CARNIVAL GROUPS

SEIZURE OF DON CARNAL IN THE PLAZA DE ESPANA FROM WHERE HE IS LED TO THE PONIENTE BEACH WERE HE IS EXECUTED BY FIRE. FOLLOWED BY A MAGNIFICENT FIREWORKS DISPLAY MARKING THE END OF THE CARNIVAL.