With the long weekend just around the corner, the towns and cities surrounding the capital are preparing their itinerary of carnival shows. They will be filled with joyful costumes from the first day of March until the traditional Burial of the Sardine.
Manteo del pelele in Alcalá de Henares
The famous scene painted by Goya in El pelele represents a very popular game in the carnivals of the 19th century: it involves throwing a rag doll into the air using a blanket and trying not to let anyone catch it. In the old days, the women would throw the rag doll and the men would try to catch it.
The Asociación Cultural Hijos y Amigos de Alcalá and the folk group Pliego de Cordel have brought this unique tradition back to Alcalá de Henares for another year: there will be a manteo in its historic center and a parade in its honor.
Alcalá de Henares has a great Carnival atmosphere. This year it will organize seven parades between March 1 and 5. One of the most outstanding ones, led by the Casa de Asturias, will put soundtrack to the weekend with a comparsa of bagpipers.
📍 Location: Plaza de los Santos Niños
📅 Dates:Sunday March 2, 12:00 pm
Parade of Murgas in Getafe
The south of Madrid hosts a route that this year celebrates its 39th edition: the Desfile de Murgas. In 2025 it will have 4,000 participants from 49 groups, 24 of them children, who will take to the streets of Getafe their best dances and costumes.
📍 Location: from Madrid Street (corner Ilustración)
📅 Dates:Saturday March 1 (schedule to be confirmed).
Parade of floats in Leganés
Leganés will have another parade with 34 comparsas and 16 floats from different associations and entities. As a novelty, this year a sambódromo will be installed at the Recinto Ferial. There, the main entities of the parade will present a choreography before the jury of the event.
📍 Location: Avenida de Fuenlabrada, number 16
📅 Dates: Sunday, March 2, 11:00 a.m.
Back to the Middle Ages in Chinchón
The Lordship of Chinchón returns with experiences to get to know this beautiful town in the Comarca de las Vegas in all its splendor. There will be craft stalls, live dances, exhibitions, medieval camp and theatrical performances during the Carnival festivities.
The event reflects the municipality’s medieval traditions. As every year, every detail – from the lighting to the music in the main square – will be carefully designed to take us back to the time of Isabella the Catholic.
📍 Location: Plaza Mayor
📅 Dates: from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2