In Madrid the music does not stop. And in the last days of August it is the local festivals that take the reins. The free concerts in San Sebastián de los Reyes are now joined by those in Alcalá de Henares, with artists such as Azúcar Moreno, Los Secretos, Ojete Calor and Rosario Flores.
From August 23 to 31, Alcalá de Henares will be full of life with a program of almost 350 activities that combine culture, music and entertainment. The fairgrounds of the Isla del Colegio will be the epicenter of the festival, but there will also be stages in the historic center of the city and in the walled area of the Huerta del Obispo.
In addition, the World Heritage City will include guided moonlight tours of its main tourist attractions and events aimed at families during the day. Parades of giants and big-heads, a water party with a water slide, storytelling, craft workshops, races and gymkhanas are just some of the proposals aimed at the little ones.
National and local artists
The musical line-up for the Alcalá de Henares festivities includes national artists such as Ladilla Rusa, King África, Los Manolos and Los Secretos. These performances will take place in the walled enclosure of the Huerta del Obispo, as part of the cycle “Los conciertos de la Muralla”. Tickets can be purchased on the web or physical points of sale from 35 euros.
The program continues with free concerts that transform the city’s squares and parks into authentic stages. Cervantes Square, the main enclave of the daytime fair, will offer dancing for all audiences every night. It will also host tributes to the 80s and 90s by Todo Cafeína on Thursday 28 and a performance by Azúcar Moreno on Saturday 30 August.
As a novelty, the park of the Stallions will have a stage where several local artists can make themselves known in the first evenings and enjoy themed nights of rock, urban music and rumba in the final stretch of the festivities.
Also the Plaza de los Santos Niños joins the bet on artists from Alcalá, with concerts by local musicians and rock bands such as Migrañas on Wednesday 27 or Vintage Unit on Thursday 28.
How to get there
Alcalá de Henares is only 30 kilometers from Madrid and can be reached by car via the A-2 (exit 23 or 26). Although there are free parking areas we recommend arriving early to avoid running out of space.
Public transport options are also very easy. The C-2 and C-7 commuter lines lead directly to Alcalá de Henares. And from the Avenida de América interchange you can also take buses 223, which is direct, and 229, which passes through Torrejón de Ardoz.
Main concerts
- Monday 25: The Fábula (Plaza de los Santos Niños), Juanjo Espinosa (Parque de Sementales) and Orquesta Ritmo Latinos 4ever Band (Plaza de Cervantes).
- Tuesday 26: Sin Recreo (Santos Niños square), Manuel Alejandro (Sementales park) and Six Band Orchestra (Cervantes square).
- Wednesday 27: Migrañas (Santos Niños square), Diego Larrea (Sementales park) and Smile Orchestra (Cervantes square).
- Thursday 28: Vintage Unit (Plaza de los Santos Niños), Rosario and Los Manolos (Huerta del Obispo) and tributes with Todo Cafeína (Plaza de Cervantes).
- Friday 29: Ojete Calor, Ladilla Rusa, OBK, King Africa and Bingo Party (Huerta del Obispo), Complutense Symphonic Band (Cervantes square) and The River Orchestra (Cervantes square).
- Saturday 30: Tuna de Alcalá (Cervantes square), Los Secretos and Fiesta remember de los 80s (Huerta del Obispo), Azúcar Moreno and Hazael (Cervantes square).