Event Previews & Reviews from Mallorca

A trip to Deià on the north coast of Majorca is a must for anyone wishing to experience the diversity that this beautiful island has to offer.

The Diamond Jubilee celebrations may be over in the UK, but here on Mallorca, we enjoyed a quintessential English garden party at La Residencia Hotel in Deia to mark the British monarch’s 60th year on the throne.

The people of Pollenca have been given a reprieve this week as the Miquel Salom photography exhibition that was supposed to run until the 25th of May has been extended until the 7th of June.

June is upon us now and here in Mallorca that means we have some BIG opening parties ahead of us and the beginning of some of the major events of the Summer.

There was no rest for the wicked in Puerto Pollensa on Sunday 19th July, in fact there was no rest for anyone until well after midnight. The streets were filled with revellers and pyrotechnics as the Fiesta of Virgen del Carmen came to a close in explosive style with a Correfoc parade of fire wielding demons.

This year saw the town of Sa Pobla celebrate its 20th annual Jazz Festival. From the 5th to the 8th of August the town’s Plaça Major was filled to the brim with spectators, who had come to enjoy the sounds of the different artistes performing each night.

This is Soller’s weekend of the ‘Apropa’t A L’Art’. Literally translated means ‘come to the art’ and it is the three days of the year when art, music and poetry are honoured in our town. On the 6th, 7th & 8th August from 6 pm onwards, many of our fine buildings are open to the public to view the paintings and participate in the music and poetry – it’s like a mini Eisteddfod here.

This Friday 8th July Bar Flexas will once again be hosting its mad, fab and outrageously camp fiesta in Parc de la Mar. With cabaret-style shows and plenty of live music, the flamboyant presenters are sure to have you on your feet singing and dancing by the end of the night.

The month of June gets the summer beach parties in Mallorca off to a fine start. The weather is glorious and we all look for excuses to get down on the sand and remember why we moved here. The beach and perfect horse shoe bay of Port de Soller never fail to delight and the children start to look forward to their holidays and swapping school shoes for no shoes. The diving platform is installed in the water this week and then the locals know that summer has officially started.

Out of all the many food festivals that are held on Mallorca throughout the year, The Frenchman and I were most eagerly awaiting the Tapalma tapas festival (7-11th October 2010). I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want to crawl round dozens of Palma’s bars and restaurants, eat their best tapas at bargain prices, and wash it all down with lashings of discounted beer and wine? It sounded like the grown-up version of a student pub crawl.

The Esporles Sweet Fair began in 2005 and is held on the first Sunday of October to guarantee fine weather. The event is becoming increasingly popular and diverse with every passing year and offers a unique opportunity to meet the people who make a fine range of traditional, homemade and, often, organic foods including wines, cakes, pastries, jams and sweets. And, of course, to sample their wares! Here are some of my favourite stands from Sunday's fair, with an insight into the characters and traditions behind the produce.

Last week we saw opening parties for Hed Kandi, Mallorca Rocks and Nikki Beach this week we have plenty more to look forward to with Superclub openings, garden parties, more festivals and walks with both guides and the undead.