Now you can mark it in red on the calendar: the Batalla Naval de Vallekas 2025 has a celebration date and it will be next Sunday, July 20. The announcement came from the hand of the Cofradía Marinera de Vallekas, in charge of channeling the party, through a publication on its Instagram profile.
This curious and joyful contest brings the neighbors to the streets of the neighborhood every year to get wet for hours with all the utensils at hand, from buckets and basins to water guns. And even the Puerto Rican singer Ozuna has participated in it (in the 2022 edition).
But something that makes this festival different from others is – in addition to its theme – that it is not only a recreational event: in line with the neighborhood and the people who host it, the Batalla Naval has a markedly vindictive character that leads it to get wet for a social or solidarity cause, and 2025 will be no exception.
The social cause of the 2025 edition
This year, the Batalla Naval de Vallekas will not only refresh the neighborhood’s summer, but will also raise its voice -and its buckets of water- for the right to decent and affordable housing. This was decided by the Cofradía Marinera de Vallekas in an assembly held on June 26th, in which this slogan was chosen as the central theme of the 2025 edition.
Access to housing has become one of the major concerns of the neighborhood, especially in a context of rising prices, shortage of public housing and growth of real estate speculation. Faced with this, Vallekas once again demonstrates its combative and communitarian character, turning the party into a platform for denunciation and a call to action.
“Mójate por una vivienda digna y asequible” is the message that stars in this year’s official T-shirt, which will run through the streets along with the traditional charangas, batucadas and sea carts. As every summer, water will be an excuse and a symbol of struggle, because in Vallekas there is no celebration without conscience, and utopia – as the Brotherhood reminds us – continues to be a driving force for change.
Where does the Batalla Naval de Vallekas come from?
The celebration of this festival dates back to the last century: as explained by the Vallekas Seafaring Brotherhood itself, it was some young people who gave rise to this aquatic confrontation one July 1981 when they were refreshing themselves with the water hydrants of the Bulevar.
The following year, what is considered the first Batalla Naval was held – attended by more than 3,000 people – and has continued uninterruptedly since then until the present day, even in times of pandemic.
For the occasion, marine decoration is installed in the streets, activities such as popular paellas are organized, the song-hymn of the festival is played and T-shirts are made with a different design for each edition -last year’s paid tribute to Rayo Vallecano for its centenary-.