© seemallorca.com
Programme released for Saint Sebastian festival in Palma
Palma de Mallorca will be celebrating it's patron saint Sebastian next week with a programme full of concerts, exhibitions and firework displays. The main action will be held in the evening of 19th January although the festival runs from the 10th to 22nd January, with a light show, fireworks and a 'devil run' finale in front of the cathedral on Saturday 22nd January.
The Saint Sebastian festival is one of the biggest and most important fiestas of the year on Majorca. Thousands of people turn out for the celebrations, and it is customary to bring food to grill on one of the many barbecues on the city streets.
The big night on the 19th January starts at 7pm with a parade of giant papier mache figures depicting legendary figures from the past. The parade starts in Placa Cort and heads to Placa Major, where there will be traditional dancing and local folk music, acrobatics and the lighting of the main bonfire (8pm).
Placa Joan Carlos sees live rock bands from 8.30pm, Placa Cort plays host to rock/pop acts Setze Cordes, Pelucón Flowers and Beth from 9pm, San Francesc has flamenco pop bands, Placa de l'Artesania is where you'll find alternative pop from 9pm, and Placa Santa Eulalia will showcase soul, blues & jazz music. Placa Espana has headline acts Soraya (represented Spain at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest) and MTV nominated Spanish band Nena Daconte. Live DJ's will be spinning the tunes in Plaza de la Reina and Placa Costa de sa Pols.
Saturday 22nd January will see Spanish alternative rock band Pignoise play in Placa Espana, and the famous 'Atiarfoc' firework and light show will begin at 8pm at Sa Feixina and Parc de la Mar. The devil run 'Correfoc' entails devils & demons dancing and running through the streets with fireworks and sparklers, and starts in Passeig des Born. It promises to be a wild night!
Palma de Mallorca is not the only place to have Sant Sebastian as it's patron saint - the whole of Spain and many other Roman Catholic countries commemorate his memory on the 20th January.
Pick up a copy of the Majorca Daily Bulletin for full details of the events.
