A 35-minute drive from Madrid lies Serranillos del Valle, a town in the region that is currently immersed in the celebration of its 2026 San Roque festivities: a series of popular celebrations that will feature one of their highlights this Saturday with its traditional giant paella.
This community meal will take place in the town’s Alameda Park this Saturday, August 15, at 2 p.m. and will serve portions to more than 1,500 people— a milestone reminiscent of others in our community, such as the enormous paella prepared in Moratalaz in 2001.
To enjoy it, all you need to do is arrive early enough: the paella is distributed free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. However, seniors and local social clubs will be given priority. After that, the paella will be distributed to those in line until all portions are gone.
In addition to the details about the diameter of the paella pan—approximately 4 meters—other figures help illustrate the scale of what’s being cooked there: a crane is needed to handle it, and around 150 kg of chicken are used in its preparation.
“I’ve been there other years, cleaning it out while standing inside. It’s huge,” says Blanca Balonga Jiménez, councilwoman for Senior Citizens at the Serranillos del Valle City Council, in a phone conversation with Madrid Secreto.
A community meal steeped in history
For Jiménez, this tradition— which has been celebrated since 1992, interrupted only by the COVID-19 health crisis—“is the most beautiful of all the festivals”: “It started with the Friends of San Roque. We had a master paella chef, who has since passed away, but other clubs have joined in and kept the tradition alive. We all get together, and there’s a great atmosphere.”
San Roque Festival 2026 in Serranillos del Valle
During these final days of the festivities—which will run through August 16—the San Roque program includes activities such as board games, water inflatables, and DJ sets.
Saturday, August 15
- 2:00 p.m. Traditional paella. Alameda Park.
- 4:00 p.m. Peñas Naval Battle. Departure from the Peña Serranillos del Vache.
- From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Water inflatables. Fairgrounds.
- 5:00 p.m. Session with DJ Rubén. Peña Te Mama’s & The Papa’s.
- 8:00 p.m. Board games. Peña Que Tiren.
- From 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.: The Rat Pack. Live Spanish cover band playing hits from the ’80s and ’90s. Fairgrounds.
- From 11:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Kiss FM Party. The best of the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s through today with Mar Montoro and Sara Delgado, the “Queen Team.” Fairgrounds.
- Starting at 12:30 a.m. Party organized by Vértigo Club 2.0. DJ Samu Sanz. Las Nuevas Escuelas Municipal Courts.
Sunday, August 16
- From 8 p.m. until closing. 2nd Children’s Day at the Fair. Rides at 50% off at the Fairgrounds.
How to get to Serranillos del Valle?
To drive from Madrid to Serranillos, take the A-42 (toward Getafe/Toledo) or the M-404 out of Madrid and continue on the Madrid-Toledo Expressway (AP-41) to Exit 8. From there, take the Navalcarnero-Chinchón Road (M-404) toward Serranillos del Valle.
If you’d like to get there by public transportation, the Line 468 intercity bus goes to the town.