The Economic Impact of Carnival Festivals: Beyond the Revelry
When you think of Carnival, what comes to mind first? The vibrant costumes, rhythmic steelpan, soca music, and streets filled with joyous revelers?
Menu
Carnaval de Águilas/ Carnival in Águilas
When is the 2024 Carnival in Águilas?
The Carnaval de Águilas will occur from February 8, 2024, to February 17, 2024.
Where is the Carnival in Águilas celebrated?
The Carnaval de Águilas is celebrated in Águilas. A town on the southeastern coast of Spain, situated in the region of Murcia.
What is the Carnival in Águilas?
The Carnaval de Águilas marks the last festive hurrah before the solemn period of Lent, offering an ideal opportunity to indulge in merriment and revelry. This lively celebration is a perfect occasion to unwind, embrace your eccentric side, and immerse yourself in days of carefree enjoyment. The carnival is characterized by extravagant outfits, vibrant processions, energetic street festivities, and captivating musical performances. The town comes alive with color, grandeur, and beauty during the four significant parades held on Carnival Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday, along with Piñata Saturday (the weekend following the main Carnival event). As night descends, the area around Plaza de España becomes a bustling hub of activity, especially on Carnival Monday, as people adorn themselves with costumes and masks.
What to Expect at Carnival in Águilas?
Several notable aspects define the festivities, such as the playful cascarones de confeti (confetti-filled eggs thrown during the celebrations) and cuerva, a traditional beverage crafted from wine and fruit. Notably, the paper costume competition has gained popularity in recent years, showcasing dazzling disguises crafted entirely from paper.
Carnaval de Águilas Schedule
Release of the Mussona
Date: Feb 8, 2024
Location: Explanada del Castillo
The annual Mussona ritual in Águilas involves the release of the Mussona, a symbolic beast, from the Castle of San Juan. During the ceremony, the outgoing Mussona transfers her power to the incoming one, and the Musician-Tamer attempts to control the beast using a tambourine. The unpredictable Mussona is guided through the town, creating a lively spectacle, and the ritual concludes in Plaza de España with the taming of the Mussona, symbolizing the renewal of the commitment to the oldest carnival in Águilas, marked by a grand fireworks display.
Children’s battle between Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma
Date: Feb 9, 2024
Location: Plaza de España
In the months leading up to the festivities, families in the city start collecting eggshells, which are later adorned with vibrant colors or covered in colorful tissue paper. These decorated eggshells filled with confetti, referred to as Los Cascarones, play a central role (as the weapons) in the playful battle between Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma.
Battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal
Date: Feb 10, 2024
Location: Plaza de España
Los Cascarones (decorated eggshells) represent a significant carnival custom. The entire square becomes a spectacle of confetti as participants engage in a lively and colorful eggshell battle, adding a fun and festive dimension to the carnival celebration.
First Grand Parade
Date: Feb 11, 2024
Location: Avenida Juan Carlos I y Calle Rey Carlos III
The carnival parade with troupes and floats transforms the streets into a dazzling spectacle, as vibrant troupes clad in elaborate costumes dance to lively music, and intricately decorated floats add a touch of grandeur to the festivities.
Second Grand Parade
Date: Feb 13, 2024
Location: Avenida Juan Carlos I y Calle Rey Carlos III
In this lively carnival parade, energetic troupes showcase a myriad of dance styles, from traditional to contemporary, while colorful floats adorned with thematic decorations roll through the streets, creating a vibrant and captivating procession.
National Competition of foreign Comparsas
Date: Feb 16, 2024
Location: Avenida Juan Carlos I y Calle Rey Carlos III
The Peñas Foráneas parade stands out as one of the most captivating moments in the carnival, featuring top-notch peñas and troupes from various regions of Spain. This event includes the National Competition of Foreign Comparsas, where three clubs will secure the top three positions based on votes from the local Aquiline clubs.
Grand Parade
Date: Feb 17, 2024
Location: Avenida Juan Carlos I y Calle Rey Carlos III
The carnival festival ends with a dynamic parade featuring exuberant troupes performing choreographed routines and imaginative floats adorned with vibrant hues and thematic designs, captivating onlookers with a visual feast of creativity and celebration.
Need help planning a trip to the Carnival in Águilas? Contact us here
Want to know more about Carnival?
From Masks to Parades: Exploring the Traditions of Carnival Festivals
When you think of Carnival, the mind immediately dances to the rhythms of steel pan, soca, and the infectious energy that takes over the streets.
Carnival Cuisine: A Culinary Journey Through Festive Foods
Carnivals around the world are vibrant spectacles of color, music, and dance, but no carnival experience is complete without indulging in the diverse array of festive foods.
