Read reviews of the best Mallorca events
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.
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 mountains that surround the Soller valley met their conqueror 100 years ago. The thinkers of the hidden valley knew that progress was going to be impossible unless they ended Soller's mountain isolation. At the turn of the century Soller was a boom town trading in cotton and oranges and moving these goods other than by sea was, quite simply, impossible. The majestic mountains and, in particular, the Alfabia mountain range prevented passengers and goods being transported to the island’s main port in Palma de Mallorca.
The sun is shining brighter, the sea is warmer and the days noticeably longer, which means the summer season is officially in full swing!
Schools out for summer and the children and their teachers celebrated in Soller style with trips to the local museums and the beach taking the place of lessons. The Port of Soller only has one school and it is an integral part of the community. Their end of term concert had the children singing heartily in the playground, ensuring there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Mallorca's local town halls have released dates for some of their traditional fairs, fiestas and festivals for 2016. Most of these local fiestas are agricultural, historical or artisanal in nature and are well worth a visit as a part of your holiday.
Springtime is the prettiest time of year to take a trip to Mallorca thanks to the legendary almond blossom making its debut. But its beauty isn’t the only thing on offer, spring visitors enjoy fewer crowds and out of peak season hotel rates. It’s the perfect time to enjoy many of the outdoor pursuits on offer.
The sun is shining and Soller is getting ready for a major fiesta - the Firo that celebrates the battle between the Moors and the Christians that happened on our beach and in our town. The 450th anniversary of the event is taking place from 5th to 9th May 2011. Flags are already festooning houses and shops all over the valley and the nature of the people means that they usually have both flags dangling from their balconies - as if they can't quite decide who to support. The Balearic flag is often alongside so all aspects of life and country are represented.
The ‘Ruta del Tapeo’ started in Puerto Pollensa in March this year to encourage locals and tourists alike to sample the culinary delights of bars, cafes and restaurants around this North Majorcan town. The Ruta is held every Thursday evening from 8pm til midnight and is a bargain at only €1.50 for a small glass of beer or wine with a tapa. The Ruta is a great opportunity to try new places and to make friends with others on the trail.
On December 2nd, I joined a whole host of families as they flocked to Santa Ponsa’s Christmas Market, held in the industrial area of Son Bugadellas.
This Sunday we were lucky enough to catch another spectacular fiesta in Palma de Mallorca. Like the festival in Soller three weeks ago and the up coming Nit de Foc in Palma, this is a Majorcan tradition that is more interested in fun and participation than health and safety - the Catalan Castells.
If you are in Mallorca this weekend, you might notice how the island is gearing up for one of its biggest fiestas of the year. Each June, the locals get together to celebrate in honour of Sant Joan (John the Baptist).
Easter week or 'Semana Santa' as it is known is a very important time in Soller. The town divides up into fraternities – groups of people attached to a local church who have an affinity to a particular group of penitents. The penitents dress in the robes of their particular fraternity and this includes wearing pointed hats, reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan, with eye holes cut out and the rest of the face covered.
Happy New Year, the Three Kings have made their journey to all Majorcan homes. They started with their arrival by boat in the Port of Soller where they were met by hundreds of local children waiting for the sweets and smiles from the Kings and their pages. They knew that this was just the start and that overnight the presents would arrive, delivered by the Kings on camels or donkeys.
Last night at Mallorca Rocks in Magaluf Kasabian played the best gig of the summer, so far. The lads from Leicester took to the stage in a whirl of lights and strobes and kicked off with "Days are forgotten". Right from the start the crowd at the Majorca beach resort were looking forward to a party, this was the second birthday of Mallorca Rocks and Kasabian were a perfect choice to celebrate the anniversary.
It wouldn’t be the same in Mallorca if there wasn’t traditional food to eat at Easter time. During the Easter weekend the women of the family sit down to make a collection of savoury panades and sweet robiols, both of which are pastries only seen during Easter. There is certainly an art to making these pies and this year was my first year helping shape the panades in the small town of Selva.
Last weekend saw more than 200,000 people flood the streets of Son Ferriol to attend one of the biggest agricultural fairs in Mallorca.
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.