August 31 to September 12 Feria de Murcia 2023

Processions, Moors and Christians, music, “huerto” open-air restaurants and a huge schedule of activities and events in the city of Murcia,

No sooner is the summer over and the school year starts, the city of Murcia embarks on another round of fiestas every year with the Feria, which for many of those who live in the regional capital means a visit or two to the massive fairground at the La Fica venue behind the Auditorio Víctor Villegas and at least one meal in the barracas – the open-air restaurants which are installed for the duration of the celebrations in the Malecón gardens.

In the 2023 edition of the Feria de Murcia there is, as ever, a wide variety of other entertainments and activities, including bullfights, the Moors and Christians celebrations, concerts and of course the veneration of the patron of the city, the Virgen de la Fuensanta.

The sculpted figure of “La Morenica” is housed for most of the year at her sanctuary in the mountains of the regional park of El Valle, but on August 31 this year she will be carried down to the cathedral in Murcia to preside over the Feria. She returns to the mountains in a major “romería” on September 12, a local holiday which marks the end of the celebrations and one which thousands of Murcianos spend accompanying her on her journey, making the Romería one of the landmarks in the annual calendar.

At the fairground this year, where 150 attractions open to the public on August 31, there are various innovations, including the two giant Ferris wheels, a 3-d “Terror Hotel” and a mechanical bull for children. Prices are between 3.50 and 5 euros per ride or attractions, with a 2-for-1 discount on the opening evening, 50% discount on September 5 and a special “quiet time” on September 6.

Meanwhile, a solar-powered boat offers rides on the River Segura between the Plano de San Francisco and the fairground from September 1 to 10 between 11.00 and 14.00 and from 17.00 to 21.00 (1 euro per trip).

The program of events for the 2023 Feria de Murcia includes the following (the full program in Spanish can be found here):

Thursday August 31

15.30: Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta sets out from her mountain sanctuary.

18.00: The fairground opens for the first time.

19.30: The figure of the patron reaches the Iglesia del Carmen to be welcomed before her journey continues to the Cathedral, where she is awaited by the Discantus choir and a shower of rose petals in Calle Arenal.

20.00: The “huertos” or “barracas” open for the first time, although the official opening is at 22.00.

Friday September 1

18.00: Music and food trucks in the Jardín de Teniente Flomesta, opening until 00.30.

20.00: “Imbécil” at the Teatro Romea, admission 15 euros.

22.00: Official opening speech of the Feria by Diego Cantero of the group Funambulista, with live music from Belter Souls followed by a firework display.

Saturday September 2

10.00: Free guided tour of the castle of the Wolf King in Monteagudo, registration here.

11.00: Guided tour starting at the tourist office in Plaza del Cardenal Belluga, “Visita Guiada Murcia Clásica”, info and reservations at turismodemurcia@aldabacongresos.com

13.00: Music and food trucks in the Jardín de Teniente Flomesta, opening until 00.30.

20.00: Music in the Plaza de la Paja from the Asociación Musical El Palmar.

20.15: An hour of zumba on the Puente de Hierro.

21.00: Murcia Food Garden opens in the Jardín de Teniente Flomesta.

21.30: “El Aguafiestas” at the Teatro Romea, tickets 15/20/22 euros.

22.00: Live music with Camela in concert in the Cuartel de Artillería, admission 30 euros.

22.00: Zoot Suiters swing band in concert in the Huertos of the Malecón gardens.

Sunday September 3

10.00: Free guided tour of the castle of the Wolf King in Monteagudo, registration here.

10.00 to 13.30: Radio-controlled model boating demonstration on the pond in Calle Pintor Almela Costa.

20.00: Music in the Plaza de la Paja from the Asociación Músico-Cultural “Las Musas” de Guadalupe.

20.15: An hour of aerobics on the Puente de Hierro.

Monday September 4

The Moors and Christians events begin with various activities throughout the day related to Alfonso X, the Las Claras centre, the Cathedral, San Juan de Dios and the medieval city walls. Clues have to be gathered to decipher a code, which Will then be opened between 23.00 and midnight. Further information at morosycristianosmurcia.org.

12.00: Guided tour at the Museo de la Ciudad tracing the history of King Alfonso X. Registration at museodelaciudad.murcia.es.

21.00: Official opening speeches of the Moros y Cristianos celebrations with music from the Discantus choir and the Asociación Musical El Palmar. Followed by a parade from Plaza Romea to Jabonerías, Sociedad, Puxmarina, Madre de Dios, Gran Vía, Martínez Tornel, Plano San Francisco, Gaspar de la Peña and the Moors’ and Christians’ encampments.

22.30: The encampments officially open in the overflow car park opposite the Malecón gardens.

Tuesday September 5

10.00: Guided tour of the Wolf King’s summer palace, the Castillejo, in Monteagudo. Reservations at eventos.murcia.es.

12.00: Guided tour of the permanent collection at the Museo Ramón Gaya.

12.00: Guided tour at the Museo de la Ciudad tracing the history of King Alfonso X. Registration at museodelaciudad.murcia.es.

18.00 to 22.00: Children’s day at the fairground, half price rides.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino.

21.00: The presentation of the standard bearers of the Moors and Christians in the Plaza de los Apóstoles, followed by a medieval parade to the encampments.

21.00: “El anticoach. Desmotivando a Pablo Chiapella” at the Teatro Romea, tickets 18 euros.

21.00: Screening of the Lion King (in Spanish) on board a boat on the River Segura.

Wednesday September 6

10.00: Guided tour of the Wolf King’s summer palace, the Castillejo, in Monteagudo. Reservations at eventos.murcia.es.

12.00: Guided tour of the exhibition “Obra sobre papel”, a collection of work by Avelino Marín at the Museo Ramón Gaya.

12.00: Guided tour at the Museo de la Ciudad tracing the history of King Alfonso X. Registration at museodelaciudad.murcia.es.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino, with various events and performances.

19.00: Fencing display at the Moors’ and Christians’ encampments.

19.00: Treasure hunt at the Moors’ and Christians’ encampments.

20.00: The Mosaico Theatre from Brazil present puppet drama in the Plaza de la Paja.

20.00: “Flipar” at the Teatro Romea, tickets 20/25/28 euros.

20.00: UCAM Murcia basketball players in a 3-pointer and free throw competition against members of the public in the Plaza de Santo Domingo.

20.15: An hour of Cardiobox on the Puente de Hierro.

22.00: Live music from Retropock in the Jardín del Malecón.

Thursday September 7

10.00: Guided tour of the Wolf King’s summer palace, the Castillejo, in Monteagudo. Reservations at eventos.murcia.es.

12.00: Guided tour of the exhibition “José Ballester, un innovador en el periodismo cultural” at the Museo Ramón Gaya.

12.00: Guided tour at the Museo de la Ciudad tracing the history of King Alfonso X. Registration at museodelaciudad.murcia.es.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino, with various events and performances.

20.00: Magic show in the Plaza de la Paja with Alejandro Artés.

20.00: Children’s Moors and Christians parade in Plaza Santo Domingo, Trapería and Plaza de la Cruz.

20.00: “Flipar” at the Teatro Romea, tickets 20/25/28 euros.

20.15: An hour of Cross Training on the Puente de Hierro.

21.00: Screening of Tarzan (in Spanish) on board a boat on the River Segura, alongside the Pasarela Manterola.

21.30: “Los secretos de la fachada: El sueño de Jaime Bort”, a musical with Belter Souls and Julio Navarro in the Plaza de Belluga. No admission charge.

22.00: Lemon Pop concert at the Murcia Food Garden in Jardín de Teniente Flomesta.

22.00: The Taking of the Christian Children at the medieval encampments.

22.00: Music from “troveros” in the Jardín del Malecón.

Friday September 8

12.00: Guided tour of the exhibition “Ramón Gayan obra gráfica” at the Museo Ramón Gaya.

12.00: Guided tour at the Museo de la Ciudad tracing the history of King Alfonso X. Registration at museodelaciudad.murcia.es.

18.00: Moors and Christians: Homage to the Virgen de la Fuensanta at the Cathedral.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino, with various events and performances, accompanied by Moors and Christians re-enactments throughout the evening until 21.30.

20.00: Lemon Pop concert at the Murcia Food Garden in Jardín de Teniente Flomesta.

20.30: Moors and Christians parade. Route: Calle de la Merced, Calle Alejandro Seiquer, Calle de los Apóstoles, Plaza de los Apóstoles, Plaza del Cardenal Belluga.

21.00: “La ilusión conyugal” at the Teatro Romea, tickets 18/20/22 euros.

21.00: “De la Zarzuela a la copla” concert in the Plaza de Santo Domingo.

21.30: Moors and Christians parade from the Museo de la Ciencia to the medieval encampment. Route: Glorieta de España, Maestro Alonso, Martinez Tornel, Plano de San Francisco, Gaspar de la Peña, encampment. Followed by a firework display.

22.00: Music in the Parque de Fofó, Lemon Pop, Fernando Rubio & The Inner Demons, Perro and Airbag.

23.00: The Procession of the Bread at the medieval encampment.

00.30: The “Bodas Sanjuanistas” at the medieval encampment.

Saturday September 9

10.00: Free guided tour of the castle of the Wolf King in Monteagudo, registration here.

11.00: Guided tour starting at the tourist office in Plaza del Cardenal Belluga, “Visita Guiada Murcia Clásica”, info and reservations at turismodemurcia@aldabacongresos.com

12.00 to 13.30: Musical procession with Giants and Big Heads from the Plaza de Belluga to the Plaza Romea.

12.00: Moors and Christians parade in Plaza de la Cruz, Traperia and Plaza de Santo Domingo.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino, with various events and performances, accompanied by Moors and Christians re-enactments throughout the evening until 21.30.

19.00: Falconry display in Paseo Escultor Juan González Moreno.

20.00: Live music from Alexanderplatz at the Murcia Food Garden in Jardín de Teniente Flomesta.

20.00: The main Moors and Christians parade. Route: Alameda de Colón, Plaza de Camachos, Calle Canalejas, Puente de los Peligros, Gran Vía Escultor Salzillo, Plaza Fuensanta, Avenida de la Constitución.

22.00: Music from Fino Oyonarte, Crudo Pimento and Javiera Mena in the Auditorio Parque de Fofó.

Sunday September 10

10.00: Free guided tour of the castle of the Wolf King in Monteagudo, registration here.

11.45: Procession and Mass to honour the Virgen de la Fuensanta at the Cathedral, provided over by José Manuel Lorca Planes, the Bishop of Cartagena.

18.00: Floral offering at the Iglesia de San Andrés.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino, with various events and performances, accompanied by Moors and Christians re-enactments throughout the evening until 21.30.

19.00: The ceremonial firing of arquebuses during a Moors and Christians parade. Route: Plaza de San Agustín, Calle García Alix, Calle Pintor Sobejano, Calle Plano de San Francisco, Avenida Teniente Flomesta, Plaza de la Cruz Roja.

20.00: Voces de España”, a tribute to Manolo Escobar and Isabel Pantoja at the Teatro Romea. Tickets 10/12/15 euros.

Monday September 11

18.30: Bullfighting in the Plaza de Toros.

18.30: Historical arts and crafts market in the Jardín Chino, with various events and performances, accompanied by Moors and Christians re-enactments throughout the evening until 21.30.

20.30: Moors and Christians: the triumphant entry of Prince Alfonso de Castilla (later Alfonso X) intoi Murcia. Route: Calle Acisclo Díaz, Gran Vía Escultor Salzillo, Plaza de Martínez Tornel, Calle Tomás Maestre, Calle San Patricio, Plaza del Cardenal Belluga.

21.00: Huertano parade. Route: Plaza Circular, Alfonso X El Sabio, Plaza de Santo Domingo, Trapería, Plaza Hernández Amores (Plaza de la Cruz).

22.00: A musical farewell for another year to the Virgen de la Fuensanta in the Cathedral.

22.00: Moors and Christians: the handing over of the keys of the city to Prince Alfonso. Route: Plaza del Cardenal Belluga, Calle San Patricio, Maestro Alonso, Martínez Tornel, Plano San Francisco, Gaspar de la Peña, encampment.

Midnight: The “huertos” in the Jardines del Malecón close.

21.00: Representation of the founding of the city of Murcia in the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga.

Tuesday September 12

The day of the Romería and a local holiday in the municipality of Murcia.

7.00: Mass to bless the Virgen de la Fuensanta on her way back to her sanctuary, followed by the departure from the Cathedral as thousands accompany her on the journey.

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.