From verbena to verbena, the popular festivals of Madrid return this summer 2024 to celebrate their traditions. After the hangover of San Isidro, the neighborhoods take over and continue with the celebrations throughout the summer, including September.
Among all, the most anticipated is the verbena de la Paloma, which along with San Isidro is the great celebration of the capital and the second opportunity of the year to take out the chulapo costume and dance a chotis in the street.
Festivities of San Antonio de la Florida (June 13 to 16)
“La primera verbena que Dios envía es la de San Antonio de la Florida” says the copla, and indeed this verbena in Paseo de la Florida starts the rest of the festivities. It is also a good opportunity to visit the hermitage with frescoes by Goya. The complete Program of concerts and activities has not yet been announced.
Tetuán Festivities (from July 5 to 7)
July begins with the traditional festivities of Nuestra Señora de las Victorias in Tetuan. As reported by the City Council in the BOAM (Official Gazette of the Madrid City Council) the celebrations will take place in the Agustín Rodríguez Sahagún Park during the first weekend of July. The Program has not yet been finalized.
Fiestas del Carmen in Chamberí (from July 12 to 16)
The patron saint festivities of Chamberí are those of the Virgen del Carmen. This year there will be celebrations in the Chamberí square, with performances, light shows and children’s activities at the plaza de Olavide.
San Cayetano Festival (August 6 to 9)
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In August Lavapiés dresses in chulapa because the verbenas (street parties) occupy the streets almost all month long. They begin with San Cayetano during the first week and continue with San Lorenzo. This year the San Cayetano booths will be located between the Plaza de Cacorro and the Plaza del General Vara del Rey. The rest of the Program is to be confirmed.
Verbena de San Lorenzo (from August 10 to 13)
As in previous years, the stalls and booths will be located in Lavapiés, Nelson Mandela and Cabestreros squares. The celebrations will take place during the second week of August and the musical performances, yet to be confirmed, will be in the Arturo Barea square.
Verbena de la Virgen de la Paloma (August 14-17)
The biggest festival of the summer is that of the Virgen de la Paloma. The streets are dressed with shawls and the chulapas take out their dresses for the second time this year.
It is also the verbena that inspired Jonás Trueba’s acclaimed Cannes film, La virgen de agosto (2019).
These festivities culminate the 12 days of celebrations that will take place during the first two weeks of the month. The nerve center of these festivities is the Carrera de San Francisco and the Plaza de la Paja. The musical performances will take place in the Vistillas, as in previous years.
Festivities of La Melonera (first fortnight of September)
These popular festivals in the district of Arganzuela are the finishing touch to the summer in the capital. As in previous years, they will be temporarily at the Matadero site from September 2 to 16. The activities usually also take place in the Arganzuela Crystal Palace and at the Madrid Río fairgrounds.