Thinking about when to go to Extremadura? Maybe just looking for an event to add to your list of quirky adventures in Spain? I collected some of the most relevant events happening in Extremadura during the year. Nature, theatre, music, religious celebrations or quirky traditions. You choose!
January
Event: Spain’s Food Capital 2015
Where: Cáceres
When: 1st January – 31st December 2015
About: In 2015 Cáceres will be Spain’s Food Capital and it will be the perfect excuse to visit the city and enjoy the local food in one of its many restaurants, don’t you think? Restaurante la Minerva, for example, is a good place to start your food tour.
Event: Jarramplas
Where: Piornal (Cáceres)
When: 19th – 20th January 2015
About: A guy dressed up as a demon and wearing a very particular and colourful costume, walks around the town playing a drum while the locals throw massive turnips at him.
February
Event: Carnival
Where: Badajoz
When: 13th – 17th February 2015
About: Apart from a spectacular parade, Carnival in Badajoz is all about celebrating and partying hard in the street until late. Not only is there a party at night, but even during the day in streets and squares.
March
Event: International Birdwatching Fair
Where: Monfragüe National Park (Cáceres)
When: 27th February – 1st March 2015
About: This event is a must for all nature lovers. Walking tours, photo competitions, professional workshops, talks, activities for kids and other activities take place in Monfragüe National Park, a protected area where you will be able to spot black storks, vultures or eastern imperial eagles.
April
Event: El cerezo en flor
Where: Valle del Jerte
When: 27th March - 12th April
About: the cherry trees in the Jerte valley blossom for about two weeks and a layer of white flowers cover the valley, creating a magical and visual natural phenomenon that attracts many people every year.
Valle del Jerte from Dietmar Denger on Vimeo.
Event: Los Empalaos
Where: Valverde de la Vera (Cáceres)
When: 2nd April 2015
About: on Maundy Thursday there is a religious procession involving men tightly tied with a rope to a plow beam all around their chest and arms. They wear a white underskirt, a veil and a crown of thorns and walk barefoot around town. They must stop 14 times on their way, get on their knees and pray in silence. If they bump into each other on the way both people must get on their knees.
Event: Chíviri
Where: Trujillo (Cáceres)
When: 5th April 2015
About: people from Trujillo celebrate the arrival of spring with folk dance and music, good food and drinks in the main square.
May
Event: WOMAD
Where: Cáceres
When: 7th – 10th May 2015
About: music, dance and arts festival that takes place in Cáceres’ main square. Free entrance and you can bring your own booze with you. Could there be anything better?
Womad Cáceres 2013: Find Emma from Ricardo Martín on Vimeo.
July
Event: Contempopránea
Where: Alburquerque (Badajoz)
When: 24th – 25th July (5th – 6th June in Badajoz) 2015
About: outdoors indie music festival that takes place in ‘Las Laderas’, a beautiful promenade in the hillside of the castle.
August
Event: Festival Medieval
Where: Alburquerque (Badajoz)
When: 13th - 16th August 2015
About: Around 2,000 people from Alburquerque take part in this festival. There are parades, street markets (they even use their own currency during the festival), knights sword fights and fights horseback, a witches’ Sabbath, music and dance. It has become a popular event in Extremadura and attracts a number of visitors every year.
Event: Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico
Where: Mérida, Medellín, Casas de Reina
When: 1st July - 23th August 2015; (Medellín) 24th - 26th July 2015; (Regina, Casas de Reina) 1st August 2015
About: the International Classic Theatre Festival takes place in August and most of the plays are performed in its magnificent Roman theatre. However, two other Roman theatres (the ones in Medellín and Casas de Reina) have been added to the festival. Plays such as The Iliad, Oedipus Rex or The Pluto have been performed in recent years.
November
Event: Otoño Mágico
Where: Valle del Ambroz
When: Every weekend of November 2015
About: this valley in Northern Extremadura welcomes the start of autumn with numerous activities during the month of November. Every weekend is different – concerts, workshops, theatre, walks in the countryside, competitions, fishing, sport and nature… Hundreds of people spend the first weekend of November in the countryside, eating fruits of the season (grilled chestnuts and dry figs, for example), drinking sangria and enjoying traditional music.
December
Event: Encamisá
Where: Torrejoncillo (Cáceres)
When: 7th December 2015
About: the legend has it that some local men managed to save their lives during the Battle of Pavia after putting themselves in the hands of Virgin Mary and cover themselves in a white sheet during the fight. Today a standard with the image of the virgin is born along a street while men on horses and covered with a white sheet await. When the standard bearer arrives to where the horsemen are people shoot into the air and bonfires are lit.
Event: Escobazos
Where: Jarandilla de la Vera (Cáceres)
When: 7th December 2015
About: everyone in Jarandilla goes to the main square wearing flame-resistant clothing and a broom. They light the brooms and ‘greet’ other people by smacking them with the broom. For three hours. After that, a man on a horse bears a standard with the image of Virgin Mary around town, followed by people that use their lit brooms as a torch.
Thanks to David, guillermo varela and amata_es for the pictures in Flickr (Creative Commons licence at the time of publication).
I think you may need to check the dates for WOMAD. These are not the same as stated on the official site.
Thanks for the comment. Updated!