Carnival and Other Ideas for the Weekend

Of course, one of the star cultural activities these days will be the Carnivals, which in Madrid are a bit peculiar (nothing to do with Rio 😉). If you want to read a very brief explanation about their origin you can find it in an old post on our blog: https://exploringwithauspain.blogspot.com/2023/02/carnivals-and-gastronomy.html

This year it will be from March 1 to 5. From Carnival Friday to Ash Wednesday, Madrid surrenders year after year to the party of the game of identities, with parties, parades, musical performances and many more activities. Do you remember that in the previous post I told you about the beautiful Matadero cultural center? Well, that will be where most of the activities will be held. You can find all the information in English here: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on/carnaval-madrid

I've been told that the Iberian Experience group is going to participate in the Burial of the Sardine! On that website you can see some photos and read about the "burial", but also about the previous days, the parade, the music groups, dance, theatre, magic...

📍 Location: Matadero (and much more). Metro Legazpi, lines 3 and 6.

📅 Dates: March 1-5, 2025.

💸 Price: free entry.

Another option for the weekend is the following: The Vegan Association of Madrid organizes Madrid Vegan Market, a vegan market that this Sunday (from 10:00 to 16:00) returns for its third edition with different stalls that will show food products, cosmetics, gastro area... there will also be talks. We will find the delights of Freedom Cakes, Urban Nomad Cooking, Good Shit Vegan Kebabs, Vegasun and Vegasauria or Pastelería Macchi, among others.

📍 Location: Espacio Rastro, on Calle San Cayetano, 5 (La Latina)

📅 Dates: Sunday March 2, 2025.

💸 Price: free entry.

And if you want to travel nearby: Chinchón, considered one of the most beautiful towns in the Community of Madrid, is celebrating its traditional Medieval Market once again this year. Jugglers, knights, musicians and itinerant artists will fill its streets with life and activities – check out the full programme here –. They will also be joined by craft stalls, traditional cuisine and a children's area for this date with the past.

📍 Location: Various locations in Chinchón

📅 Dates: From February 28 to March 2, 2025

A Market Unlike Any Other

If there is one weekend market that is a must-see in Madrid, it is the Mercado de Motores. Not only because it is the oldest (it has been held almost uninterruptedly since 2012), but also because of the number of designer stalls that can be found, including a space for second-hand clothes and items in the outdoor part of the venue.

In addition, there are food, coffee and drink stalls to replenish your energy. And finally, workshops, free concerts and DJ sessions throughout the weekend. All with the added bonus of doing it in a setting as iconic as the platforms of the Railway Museum, a jewel of Madrid's industrial architecture that is still standing.

Although the museum is open every day in the morning except Wednesdays, the market is only held once a month, usually on the second weekend of the month. This February it will be on the 8th and 9th of February.

Reserve your free tickets in https://mercadodemotores.es/proxima-edicion-mercado-de-motores-madrid-2/

And if you go in costume, you can participate in a contest and win a free drink (read how here):

https://www.eventbrite.es/e/carnaval-disfraces-y-rondas-gratis-en-mercado-de-motores-tickets-1232947963549?aff=oddtdtcreator

Madrid Pride

Madrid is known for being one of the best LGBTQ+ destinations in the world and its annual Pride is a must-attend for thousands of people from across the world. The celebrations will begin this year on 28 June (International Pride Day, commemorating the Stonewall riots that marked the beginning of the LGBT protest movement). The festivities then continue for a week with a wide range of activism, culture, and fun activities.

The biggest day is the afternoon of Saturday, July 6 when the Madrid Pride Parade takes place (from Atocha train station to Plaza de Colón).

Although the majority of activities are held in the Chueca neighborhood, one of Madrid’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant areas, Pride is enjoyed across the entire city. Stages hosting concerts and shows can be found at this link. 

Tradition and Modernity: Carnivals and the Japan Weekend!

 

Traditional Carnival celebrations are drawing to a close when it is time for the Burial of the Sardine, a tradition captured by Goya in one of his paintings. This year it will be celebrated tomorrow Wednesday February 14th. If you want to know more about the origin of Carnival celebrations and learn some history, take a look to our previous post: https://exploringwithauspain.blogspot.com/search?q=sardine 

 

Would you like to participate? Check the itinerary and the time here (two options: 11am-3:00pm and 6:00pm-9:00pm): https://www.carnavalmadrid.com/evento/tradicional-entierro-de-la-sardina-1

And if anime is your favorite drawing style, you listen to J-pop, and cosplay is your way of understanding fashion even for everyday life, don't miss the new edition of Japan Weekend Madrid, which returns with an event full of activities. The entire program, on the official website: https://www.japanweekend.com/madrid/