Events and Fiestas

Menorca Gold: Luxury Holiday Villas and Apartments in Menorca. 

During the summer, all the major towns in Menorca, including Mahon, Citadella, Es Castell celebrate their town’s own Fiesta. These start with the Festival of St John the Baptist in Ciutadella which begins on the Sunday prior to June 24th, with a man dressed as John the Baptist carrying a sheep walking barefoot through the town. Parades of horses and the jaleo (a dance performed by horses with very skilled riders) are on display through the streets, with singing, dancing and a fantastic atmosphere. All the social classes are symbolically represented by huge giants in the procession and the events has been described as among the most colourful and exuberant anywhere in Spain. A great family occasion with children wholeheartedly included.

The festival season closes with Mahon fiesta around 7-9 September, equally racous and again with stunning processions, music and displays of horsemanship. Both events have magnificent firework displays on the final evenings and locals often keep their children up until midnight to see them.  

Dates do change from year to year for town fiestas, but are always around the same time.

Calendar:

In January, an event close to the hearts of families on Menorca is The Three Kings – On 6th Jan, in Mahon the three kings land at the harbour and visit all the children in their homes with presents. They are often followed down the streets with confetti and give out sweets. This event happens across the island, the kings giving out present which have been delivered to the town hall beforehand by parents and family.
The Festival of the three Blows (Festes d’es Tres Trocs) in also held in Ciutadella to commemorate the reconquest of Menorca in 1287.

Mid-late February sees Carnival celebrated in many towns with fancy dress parades and revelry to mark the end of Lent on the Thursday following Ash Wednesday, through to the following Tuesday.

In late March / April, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated throughout the island with solemn processesions, the most impressive usually in Mahon and Citadella. Also in April the Princess Sofia Trophy is held in Palma, Mallorca, a yachting regatta that is one of the most important in the Balearic islands

Menorca events in June include the famous Sant Joan Festival - June 24th, held in Ciutadella, with horses are a major part of the event, which is King Juan Carlos's name day and described more fully above and the Fiesta of Sant Pere in Mahon’s port on the 29th June.

In July the feast of the patron saint of sailors includes parades and the blessing of fishing boats, the Dia de Virgen de Carmen - July 15th to 16th and is held all over the Balearic islands, although the main centres are Mahon, Citadella and Fornells on the North coast. On the 25th July, Sant Marti is celebrated in Es Mercadel with secular and religious events. The 16th July sees the Fornells Fiesta with jaleo, procession and dance at the harbour.

August is when Es Migjorn Gran celebrates its patron Saint, Sant Cristofal on 2-4th and The Fiesta de Sant Lorenc - second week in August is held in Alaior, Menorca, with riding displays in the streets and a pilgrimage to Binixems. 24/5 August sees Sant Bartomeu celebrated in Ferreries with a jaleo.

September marks the end of the Fiesta season with the huge festival of Mahon – the Virgin of Monte Toro or Festes de la Vierge de Gracia. Sant Nicolau is celebrated in Es Mercadel and El Toro with processions, a jaleo, music and folk dancing, along with a religious ceremony at the top of Monte Toro.