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Events in Madrid |
Madrid Carnaval
Madrid's traditional medieval carnival was revived in 1976 after being squashed for 40 years under Franco's regime. Revellers now exult in this plethora of partying and parades every year, with the action centred around venues like the Casino and the Circulo de Bellas Artes. Carnaval opens with a huge parade along the Paseo de la Castellana, and there are fancy dress competitions and an evening concert in the Plaza Mayor. The end of Carnaval on Ash Wednesday brings on the bizarre traditional 'Burial of the Sardine' parade, with the participants all dressed in black carrying a cardboard sardine in a coffin to be mournfully buried at the Fuente de los Pajaritos. For more information contact the Madrid Tourist Office on 91 588 1636 or 91 366 5477.
(30 January to 6 February 2008)
ARCO
Arco is Europe's largest contemporary art fair (drawing around 200,000 visitors) and turns Madrid into the centre of the international art world during its five-day run each year. About 200 contemporary art galleries are represented in the exhibition, along with a programme of lectures, social events and related activities. (13-18 February 2008)
International Gourmet Fair
 A paradise for food and wine lovers, the annual Madrid Gourmet Fair has improved every year since it was first held in 1987 to showcase Spain’s fine food and beverages. Traditionally the fair opens with the entertaining ‘Ham Carving Competition’ (ham being a staple delicacy in Spain, and gourmets being particularly partial to ham from acorn fed pigs). There is also wine-tasting, a gourmet cook-off in which top chefs from Spain’s autonomous regions compete, a ‘Spanish cheese’ contest and of course plenty of delights to sample at the stands of more than 700 national and international exhibitors. (April 2008)
Fiesta de San Isidro
 Madrid goes wild each May in honour of the city's patron saint, San Isidro, with a traditional round of partying, feasting and dancing in the streets that goes on for about 10 days around the designated saint's day, 15 May. The city's streets are dominated by music, and each neighbourhood (barrio) chimes in with their own street party or traditional celebration. The city's squares become centres of performances of everything from flamenco to rock 'n roll, while spectators feast on traditional ice cream and doughnuts. San Isidro's fiesta also signals the start of the city's bullfighting season at the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas. For more information dial the Tourist Information line on 010 (Madrid) or +34 (0)91 540 4040\4010 (when calling outside of Madrid).
La Tomatina
 Almost 10,000 visitors descend annually on this tiny little village just 25 miles (40km) outside of Valencia to throw tomatoes at one another in the world's biggest food fight. The origins of the festival are a bit hazy but it is believed to have started as a simple incident between a seller in the market throwing a vegetable at a competitor and then erupted into the entire village taking part. Now visitors from all across the globe make the trek annually to join in the very red celebrations. There is little accommodation in Buñol itself and visitors are advised to book early into hotels in Valencia. (29 August 2007)
Autumn Festival
Madrid becomes a perfect roost for culture vultures in autumn when more than 50 dance, theatre and musical groups from countries throughout Europe, the Middle East and America participate in a programme of opera, ballet, dance, music and theatre at about 40 venues throughout the city. The varied selection at this premier cultural festival spans everything from chamber music and classic plays to flamenco and hip-hop. (October to November 2007)
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