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Sant Sebastia 2013 - Palma's best fiesta

The Patron Saint of Palma is celebrated with concerts, bonfires & fire runs

featured in Events reviews Author Jane Leitch, Mallorca Reporter Updated

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).

Gigs were held in eight locations around Palma, each attracting different demographics and audiences. Stages were set up in Plaza Major which hosted the largest fogueron. Plaza de Cort was still lit up with Christmas lights and was one of the most popular stages, tih pop & rock bands playing until 2am. Plaza Espanya had one of the biggest acts of the night, Jarabe de Palo, who played their popular hits to a big crowd. In the Plaza de l’Olivar, folk and South American music was played. A series of tribute bands played outside the Hard Rock Cafe along the Paseo Maritimo by the marina and in the Plaza Santo Domingo la Calzada, attracting a younger crowd of rock fans. Streets such as Avinguda de Jaume III and Passeig Born were closed off to traffic and Plaza Joan Carles I was transformed into a concert venue with a large stage set up at the entrance to the Passeig Born promenade. Other stages were set up in Sa Llotja and Plaza Sant Francesc.

Like the Sant Antoni festival earlier last week, the traditional meats such as bottifarons and sobrassada were cooked on the torrades (BBQ's) and served on top of artisan bread. It’s a good idea to plan ahead because although the barbecues are provided you still need to bring your own utensils, plates, napkins and anything else you may need. Many people could be seen playing 'hot potato' with their sobrassada, and it was evident they hadn’t thought the whole thing through. Of course, if you are lucky enough you might be able share a torrada space with someone who could lend you their barbecue utensils. The barbecues set up on the streets are open to anybody to use and is a great way to socialise and keep warm during the cold night.

Most concerts began at around 8 or 9pm and ran through until 2 or 3am depending on the square. The torrades kept going until there were no flames left - people were still seen grilling food at 2am.

The following day (Sunday) we were enjoying a llonguet (artisan bread) at Bar Bosch when we learned about another tradition held during Sant Sebastia - a celebration of cycling. Some 9000 people took part in this years ‘diada’ where cyclists of all ages took to their bikes and rode through the streets of Palma. They cycled down the Passeig Born through Jaume III and on towards Son Moix where there was a bouncy castle awaiting the young cyclists.

Monday was the actual Sant Sebastia day and is a public holiday throughout Mallorca. Guided tours of the city telling legends of the city were organised and a special mass was held at Palma’s cathedral with a Capella Mallorquina held in the afternoon.

Location

Map of the surrounding area