ARCHIVED - Until June 14 Carnival parades and celebrations in Cartagena

The main 2022 Cartagena Carnival parade takes place on June 11

Carnival in Cartagena is a large and spectacular event, usually taking place in February, but despite the origins of the celebration lying in the religious calendar as they mark the start of Lent the decision has been made this year to hold them in June (due to high Covid incidence rates earlier in the year).

The celebrations include a number of galas and competitions prior to the main Carnival parade, which always attracts huge crowds into the centre of the city.

Cartagena is famous for its Carnival Chirigotas: these are witty, irreverent and satirical groups who perform set routines with outrageous verse and costumes. In some ways they are a throwback to the days of jesters and fools, playing their part as “Kings” of the Carnival celebrations.

Although it’s very entertaining for Spanish, who understand the political jibes and barbed social comment, much of the humour is lost on those who are not fluent in Spanish, but nonetheless those with a good command of the language can purchase tickets for the three competition nights in the El Batel Auditorium.

As elsewhere in Spain, the Carnival festivities are hosted by the larger than life figure of Don Carnal, the personification of lust, excess and pleasure, who is engaged in continual combat with Doña Cuaresma, the looming shadow of Lent, representing austerity, piety and denial.

The two clash throughout, with Don Carnal winning the battle and ruling for the pleasures of the Carnival until he is finally defeated by Dona Cuaresma as we enter Lent and the 40 day run-up to Semana Santa (although on this occasion, of course, Lent is already months behind us!)

Tickets for the main galas are available this year from El Corte Inglés in Cartagena, and other important locations are the Pabellón Central de Deportes Wssell de Guimbarda, the Auditorio El Batel, the Plaza San Francisco and the Centro Cultural Ramón Alonso Luzzy.

The program of events for the 2022 Carnival in Cartagena includes the following:

Tuesday June 7

19.00: Dance troupes parade through the old city centre of Cartagena.

Wednesday June 8

19.00: Dance troupes parade through the old city centre of Cartagena.

21.00: First semi-final of the “Ciudad de Cartagena” chirigotas competition at the Auditorio El Batel, including a performance by the Cádiz group “No aguantamos más, vamos de Impacientes”.

Thursday June 9

11.00: Parade in the city centre. Route: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Calle Mayor, Plaza de San Sebastián, Puertas de Murcia, Santa Florentina, Plaza de Juan XXIII.

12.00: Children’s and adults’ dance groups perform in Plaza de Juan XXIII.

21.00: Second semi-final of the “Ciudad de Cartagena” chirigotas competition at the Auditorio El Batel, including a performance by the Cádiz group “No aguantamos más, vamos de Impacientes”.

Friday June 10

20.00: Final of the 19^th “Ciudad de Cartagena” chirigotas competition at the Auditorio El Batel, two performances with the second one at 23.30.

Saturday June 11

12.00: The chirigotas perform in the Plaza del Icue.

19.00: The main Carnival parade starts at the corner of Alameda de San Antón and Francisco de Borja. Route: Alameda de San Antón, Plaza de España, Calle Carmen, Puertas de Murcia, Calle Mayor, Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

22.00: Live music in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Sunday June 12

12.00: Children’s show including the costume competition in the Plaza de Juan XXIII.

12.00: The chirigotas perform in the Plaza del Icue.

21.00: Live music in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Tuesday June 14

19.00: The parade of Don Carnal, one of the main protagonists of Carnival. Route: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Calle Mayor, Plaza de San Sebastián, Puertas de Murcia, Santa Florentina, Plaza de Juan XXIII, Juan Fernández, Trafalgar, Pabellón Central de Deportes.

22.00: Prizegiving and closing ceremony at the Pabellón Central de Deportes Wssell de Guimbarda.

This is followed by the ceremonial burning of the effigy of Don Carnal and a firework display.

For more upcoming events go to the What’s On section of Murcia Today.