The San Bernabé festivities in El Escorial are gearing up to debut one of the most spectacular events of early summer in the Community of Madrid: a drone show that will light up the town’s sky, joining several free urban rap concerts and a visit from the Teatro Real’s float.
This year, the program, which runs from June 5 to 14, combines tradition, culture, and youth-oriented entertainment in a format carefully designed so that both families and groups of friends coming up from Madrid in search of something different from the typical summer festivals can find something to do during the same week.
The drone show in the skies above the mountains
The main visual attraction of these festivities will be the nighttime drone show, which replaces traditional fireworks with a quieter and more sustainable alternative. Dozens of choreographed drones will trace figures, geometric shapes, and nods to the history of El Escorial and San Bernabé against the dark backdrop of the mountains, creating a screen of moving lights visible from much of the town center.
The event will serve as the grand finale of the festivities. It will take place in the Ensanche district at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 14.
El Escorial Rap Fest: urban rap in the Plaza de España
The festival’s urban rap event takes place in the late afternoon and evening in the heart of town. According to the official program, the Escorial Rap Fest will be held on Saturday, June 6, in Plaza de España, featuring performances by Midas Alonso, Nasta, Rain, Dos Hermanos, and Bolo Escorial.
The event is presented as one of the main highlights for young people on the lineup: a free outdoor concert, with a professional stage and sound system, that transforms the square into a small urban festival in the mountains. You can view the full program at the following link.
The Royal Theater Float: opera right on the street
On June 9, the Teatro Real float will pass through El Escorial, a key part of the San Bernabé program and one of the cultural highlights of this year’s festival. The concert will take place in the Renfe parking lot at 9 p.m. on one of the festival’s main evenings, sandwiched between family activities and orchestra performances.
This is a free performance that brings arias and opera excerpts to anyone who comes to the plaza, with no need for tickets or reserved seating.
More drone shows in Madrid
Amid the capital’s rich cultural offerings, there is room for this trendy light show:DroneArt Show, which has taken these experiences to 40 cities around the world, presentstwo themed drone shows at the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela: DroneArt Show: Harry Potter™ and DroneArt Show: Space Chase.