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 Fiestas des Vermar celebrate the end of the grape harvest season in Binissalem, turning the village into a lively hub of festivity for nearly three weeks each September. This vibrant event honours the rich tradition of winemaking and the fruitful harvest, with locals proudly wearing traditional costumes, adding to the authentic and festive atmosphere.

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.

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.

This years Sant Sebastia festivities in Palma last Saturday night were much quieter than in previous years as wind and rain put many Mallorquians off coming out to celebrate. However, the rain didn’t last long enough to put out the barbecues on the streets and still crowds were there cooking sausages, toasting bread, and warming up by the foguerons (bonfires).

The Soller valley contains the village of Fornalutx - high above Soller it nestles into the mountains and its name literally translated means ‘the oven of the sun’. Fornalutx has it all – prizes for being the prettiest village in Spain and accolades from visitors and travel writers that come from all over the world.

Extreme by name, extreme by nature. The race up and down Puig Massanella from the picturesque village of Mancor de la Vall is considered by many to be the toughest race in the Cursa de Muntanya race series. This year’s race was made all the more difficult because local landlords would not allow runners to cross their land on the return from the peak.

The children of Mallorca have twelve weeks holiday in the summer. Summer schools are therefore essential to allow parents to work in the tourist industry and to stop the little ones getting bored of holiday life. The families of the hidden valley have choices - groups based in school buildings throughout Soller, the community centre Ca’n Dulce, or the favoured one of my family – the Tennis & Swimming Summer School. 

As most countries in the world begin to wrap up their Christmas festivities, in Spain the Christmas holidays are still in full swing. 

I have been living in Palma for nearly 9 months and was surprised to stumble upon a somewhat common monthly event but still very unknown to many residents here on the island - The Changing of the Guards of Honour.

Before you reach for your top hat or fascinator, this is not Ascot, nor is it actually horse racing as you know it. For in Mallorca, it is trotting races that is the king of sports. The specially bred horses (with a height of 1.5 - 1.7 metres) pull a small and lightweight cart which carries a ‘jockey' around a race track going at speeds you would not think possible. This sport has been popular in Majorca for 200 years and tracks in Palma and Manacor host races once a week.

The craziness of peak season is over here in Mallorca and as the summer begins to draw to a close there's just enough time for one last big party, or if you want several. The closing parties for Mallorca Rocks, BCM and Nikki Beach Mallorca are just around the corner and if you want to say goodbye to the summer in style then there a few dates to add to your diary.

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.