ARCHIVED - February 10 to 21 Carnival 2023 in Cartagena

Numerous parades and live music events as Cartagena welcomes Don Carnal for a week of fun and revelry in the city

The Carnival of Cartagena is not the biggest in the Region of Murcia – that title goes to the town of Águilas in the south-west of the Region – but the celebrations still attract thousands of participants every year and are being welcomed with particular enthusiasm in 2023 as the events get back to their full scale after the coronavirus pandemic disruption of the last couple of years.

At the same time various changes have been made to the format followed prior to the pandemic, including the transfer of the official opening speech (given this year by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez 'El Sevilla') to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Another innovation is the installation of a marquee containing informal bars and eateries in the Plaza Mayor, and at this venue on February 18 there is a performance by “chirigota” groups and a 1990s concert, while the main parade is lengthened to include Calle Aire, Calle Cañón, Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Héroes de Cavite.

Carnival 2023 ends on February 21 with a parade followed by the ceremonial burning of the figure of Don Carnal, followed by a chance to taste the local pastries known as the “Tetillas de Doña Cuaresma” and the “meatballs” of Don Carnal – a rather cheeky reference to some of the organs which differentiate the sexes of the two main protagonists of Carnival!

The full schedule of events between February 10 and 21 was announced on Tuesday January 31 by Mayoress Noelia Arroyo, Juan Pedro Torralba (the Councillor for Festivities) and Eduardo Pignatelli , president of the local Federación de Carnaval, and includes the following:

Friday February 10, the proclamation of Carnival 2023

20.00: Parade with batucada drumming, ending at the Plaza del Icue.

20.30: Carnival troupes meet and parade to the Puertas de Murcia, Calle Mayor and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

21.00: Proclamation from the Town Hall balcony, live music and a chance to taste the “meatballs of Don Carnal”.

22.00: Live music from Los Happys.

Saturday February 11

17.00: Election of the Junior Carnival Queen and Gala at the Wssel de Guimbarda sports pavilion, tickets available in advance from El Corte Inglés.

22.00: Election of the Carnival Queen and Gala at the Wssel de Guimbarda sports pavilion, tickets available in advance from El Corte Inglés.

Sunday February 12

20^th annual dance competition at the Wssel de Guimbarda sports pavilion:

12.00: Children

18.00: Adults (1^st phase)

22.00: Adults (2^nd phase)

Tickets available in advance from El Corte Inglés.

Monday February 13

21.00: National “Ciudad de Cartgagena” drag queen gala and competition at the Wssel de Guimbarda sports pavilion, tickets available in advance from El Corte Inglés.

Tuesday February 14

19.00: Parade of Carnival troupes in the old city centre of Cartagena, starting in Plaza Juan XXIII and with a route including Calle Santa Florentina, Calle Carmen, Calle San Roque, Calle Sagasta Plaza del Icue, Puertas de Murcia, Calle Honda and Plaza San Francisco.

Wednesday February 15

19.00: Another parade of Carnvial troupes in the city centre, starting in plaza del Ayuntamiento and including Calle Mayor, Puertas de Murcia, Plaza del Icue, Calle Sagasta, Calle San Roque, Calle Carmen and Calle Santa Florentina.

21.00: First semi-final of the 20^th annual “Ciudad de Cartgena” chirigota musical group competition at Auditorio El Batel. Tickets are available online here at 12 euros.

Thursday February 16

21.00: Second semi-final of the 20^th annual “Ciudad de Cartgena” chirigota musical group competition at Auditorio El Batel. Tickets are available online here at 12 euros.

Friday February 17

11.00: Schoolchildren’s parade, route Plaza Juan XXIII, Calle Santa Florentina, Calle Carmen, San Roque, Calle Jabonerias, Puertas de Murcia, Plaza San Sebastian, Calle Mayor, Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

17.00: Seniors’ Carnival at the Pabellón Jiménez de la Espada.

20.00 and 23.30: Final of the 20^th annual “Ciudad de Cartgena” chirigota musical group competition at Auditorio El Batel (two shows). Tickets are available online here at 15 euros.

Saturday February 18

12.00: The chirigota groups take to the streets ibn the Plaza Mayor.

18.00: The main Carnival parade begins at the corner of Avenida San Antón and Calle Francisco de Borja Street. Route: Avenida San Antón, Plaza de España, Calle Carmen, Puertas de Murcia, Plaza de San Sebastian, Calle Aire, Calle Cañon, Plaza de Town Hall Plaza, Plaza Heroes de Cavite Plaza and Plaza de Mayor.

19.00: Live music in Plaza Mayor at a 1990s “Remember Party”.

Sunday February 19

12.00: Children’s Carnival in the Plaza Mayor with live entertainment, a costume competition and chirigotas performing in the open air.

12.00: The chirigota groups make another appearance in the Plaza del Icue.

Monday February 20

18.00: Parade of dance troupes. Route: Plaza Juan XXIII, Calle Santa Florentina, Puertas de Murcia, Plaza San Sebastian, Calle Mayor, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Plaza Mayor.

19.00: The dance groups perform in the Plaza Mayor.

Tuesday February 21

19.00: The final parade of Carnival, the Parade of Don Carnal. Route: Plaza Juan XXIII, Calle Santa Florentina, Calle Carmen, Calle San Roque, Calle Sagasta, Puertas de Murcia, Plaza San Sebastian, Mayor Street, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Plaza Mayor.

21.00: Prize giving and the official farewell to Don Carnal in the Plaza Mayor, followed by another chance to taste the "Tetillas de Doña Cuaresma" and “Pelotas de D. Carnal”. During the evening the papier mâché figure of Don Carnal is ceremonially burnt to signal the end of the revelry of Carnival.

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Members regularly return to their extended family at the La Quinta multi-ownership club within La Manga Club

Continuity, security and the constant drive to improve attract visitors back to La Quinta year after year

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