August 14 to 24 Semana de la Huerta y el Mar in Los Alcazares 2024

Ten days of festivities, parades, music, food and drink as Los Alcázares celebrates the traditional August influx of visitors from inland Murcia

Once again the town of Los Alcázares will be transformed for 10 days this August into the hub of a unique celebration of summer: the Semana Internacional de la Huerta y el Mar, which takes place from 14^th to 24^th August.

During the 52^nd edition of these fiestas, the picturesque streets of the town centre will be at the heart of an event which is guaranteed to delight both residents and visitors in a festival of culture, music and tasty food!

The festivity of the Semana Internacional de la Huerta y el Mar is a tribute to the roots of the Region of Murcia, combining the best of its folk traditions and rich gastronomic heritage, and for ten days those attending will be treated to a varied program of events including concerts, live entertainment and float parades, all taking place in the charming historic centre of Los Alcázares.

The municipality of Los Alcázares proudly invites you to come along and take in the atmosphere at the concerts, folk dancing, parades and outdoor eateries in this unique environment: a culturally and gastronomically rich environment which constitutes and unforgettable experience!

Apart from the programmed events there is plenty of atmosphere in and around the artisan market, in the “barracas” or "ventorrillos", where traditional lunch and dinners are served at very affordable prices to customers seated outside, and throughout the town as Los Alcázares recalls the days when the agricultural workers of the Murcia countryside used to decamp to the coast for a couple of weeks before returning home for the autumn.

These “ventorrillos” open every evening at 20.00.

The full programme has now been confirmed and one of the highlights is on Saturday August 17 when the traditional Bando de la Huerta takes place. This is a smaller-scale replica of the massive event on the Tuesday after Easter in the city of Murcia, which is a local holiday and sees hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets in a celebration of their agricultural heritage and the start of spring. On this occasion the main procession runs from close to the beach in Los Narejos to the Town Hall of Los Alcázares and is followed by an open-air concert.

Every day

20.00: The stalls, stands and open-air bars open on Avenida 13 de octubre and other main streets, as does the 20^th annual arts and crafts fair.

Thursday August 15, national holiday (Assumption Day)

21.00: The Cuadrilla de Ánimas de Santa Lucía from San Ginés in Murcia perform in the streets.

23.00: After processions on both land and sea the figure of the Virgen de la Asunción arrives by boat at the old fish market, accompanied by music from the Cuadrilla de Ánimas de Santa Lucía.

Friday August 16

22.30: Official opening speech by artist Cristóbal Gabarrón Betegón, along with music from Parrandboleros in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Admission free of charge.

22.30: The Tarambinas folk group from the northern city of Vigo perform in Calle Río Nalóon.

Saturday August 17

19.00: 21^st annual Bando Internacional de la Huerta y el Mar, a procession celebrating the traditions of the Huerta around the city of Murcia. Route: Los Narejos, Avenida Ferrocarril, Calle Marqués de Rozalejo, Avenida de Los Narejos, Avenida Carril de Las Palmeras, Avenida de la Libertad, Avenida 13 de octubre (Carretera de Torre Pacheco). Among the participants are the Renia de la Huerta from Murcia and numerous “troveros” (troubadours).

22.00: The concert of the Bando in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Sunday August 18

20.00: Traditional musical Mass in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento with the Coro y Rondalla Virgen de la Purísima and the El Chisquero Peña Huertana from Murcia in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

22.30: International folk festival featuring groups from Ribera del Fresno (province of Badajoz), Bosnia-Herzegovina, Valencia, Vigo and Mexico in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Admission free of charge.

Monday August 19

22.30: The International Folk Festival continues with groups from Beniel (Murcia), Ribera del Fresno (province of Badajoz), Mexico, Vigo and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Admission free of charge.

Tuesday August 20

22.30: Show in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento featuring coplas performed by Miguel Ángel Montesinos Sánchez with Tomás García Martínez on guitar, followed by performances by groups from Murcia and Aljucer. Admission free of charge.

22.00: Folk ballet by the group Pronija from Bosnia Herzegovina in the square of Punta Calera.

22.30: The group México Vivo in Calle Río Nalón.

Wednesday August 21

22.30: Traditional Murciano dialect performances in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Thursday August 22

22.30: More folk music with groups from Colombia, Murcia and Chile in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Admission free of charge.

Friday August 23

A day of “Sardinera” celebration, referring to the annual Entierro de la Sardina in Murcia, ending with music by The Power Band at 22.30 and more DJ music well into the night.

22.00: The group Crea Danza from Colombia perform in the square of Punta Calera.

22.30: The Ballet Folclórico de Pucón from Chile perform in Calle Río Nalón.

Saturday August 24

The final night of the Festival Internacional de Folclore features performances by the groups from Colombia, Molina de Segura, Chile and, Puente Tocinos (Murcia) in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Admission free of charge.

For more local events and news go to the home page of Los Alcázares Today.