Festivals in Extremadura: Medieval Fairs and Folk Music in Western Spain

Festivals in Extremadura showcase the diverse culture of this rugged region in western Spain which merge age-old traditions with modern celebrations. Whilst the weird and wonderful Jarramplas Festival involves hurling turnips at a costumed figure, the WOMAD festival transforms the medieval city of Cáceres into an international music venue. Badajoz’s famed Carnival exemplifies the region’s talent for spectacle through its ornate parades and lively dance competitions. A more serene event is the Cherry Blossom Festival in the Jerte Valley where the whole landscape is covered with white blossom.

Festivals in Extremadura

Festivals in Extremadura

Jarramplas Festival

The Jarramplas Festival, held annually on 19th and 20th January in the village of Piornal, is one of Extremadura’s most unusual and intriguing celebrations. The festival centres around a character known as the Jarramplas, a man dressed in a colourful costume and a horned mask who parades through the streets while beating a drum. As he moves through the village, locals pelt him with turnips, a tradition believed to have origins in pagan rituals of purification and renewal.

The exact origins of this festival are disputed, with some theories suggesting it dates back to the 14th century. One popular legend claims that the Jarramplas represents a cattle thief who was chased out of the village by angry residents throwing vegetables. Today, the festival attracts thousands of visitors who come to witness this unique spectacle and participate in the turnip-throwing tradition.

Womad Cáceres

WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) Cáceres is an international festival that takes place in the historic city of Cáceres each May. This vibrant celebration of world music and culture has been a fixture in Extremadura’s festival calendar since 1992 and is recognised as one of the best music festivals in Spain.

Founded by Peter Gabriel in 1980, WOMAD aims to promote cross-cultural understanding through music and the arts. The Cáceres edition of the festival, set against the backdrop of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, brings together musicians and artists from around the globe for three days of performances, workshops and cultural exchange.

In addition to music, WOMAD Cáceres features a global market, a children’s workshop area and a variety of food stalls offering cuisines from around the world. The festival’s commitment to cultural diversity and its unique setting have made it one of the most anticipated annual events in Extremadura.

Carnival of Badajoz

The Carnival of Badajoz, taking place in February or March depending on the date of Easter, is one of the most important and popular festivals in Extremadura. This lively celebration, which has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, transforms the city of Badajoz into a vibrant spectacle of colour, music and dance.

The carnival’s history can be traced back to the 19th century, although its roots likely extend much further. During the festival, the streets come alive with elaborate parades featuring intricate costumes, floats and performances. One of the highlights is the ‘comparsas’ competition, where groups perform choreographed routines and sing specially composed songs, often with satirical themes.

The carnival culminates in the burial of the sardine, a symbolic ritual marking the end of the festivities and the beginning of Lent. This tradition, common in many Spanish carnivals, involves a mock funeral procession where a large papier-mâché sardine is carried through the streets and eventually burned.

Feria de San Juan (Badajoz)

The Feria de San Juan, also known as the Feria de Badajoz, is the main local festival of the city of Badajoz. It honours San Juan Bautista, the patron saint of the Badajoz Diocese, with the main celebration occurring on June 24th. This event is one of the largest and liveliest fairs in Extremadura. The fair’s origins date back to 1255 when King Alfonso X granted the city the privilege to hold it. Initially featuring livestock markets, the fair evolved over time to include dances and various attractions.

The festival begins with the official inauguration of the characteristic lighting in the Caia fairgrounds. The program includes fireworks, attractions, food stalls, musical performances, dance groups and cultural and sporting events. A solemn ceremony honouring the saint is also part of the celebrations. A highlight of the fair is the Night of San Juan which includes an impressive fireworks display along the Guadiana River. The traditional Badajoz bullfighting fair is another notable event during this period.

Semana Santa in Cáceres

The Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Cáceres is a spectacular religious and cultural event which has earned international recognition for its unique blend of tradition, art and spirituality. This week-long celebration transforms the ancient streets of Cáceres, a UNESCO World Heritage site, into a living tableau of faith and history.

Visitors to Cáceres during Holy Week will witness solemn processions winding through the medieval quarter, where ornate religious floats (pasos) are carried on the shoulders of devoted participants. The city’s stunning architectural backdrop, with its centuries-old buildings and narrow cobblestone streets, provides an atmospheric setting which enhances the reverent mood of the festivities.

The processions feature a mix of Castilian and Andalusian influences, with some brotherhoods adopting the traditional shoulder-carrying method, while others have embraced the Andalucían-style costal technique. One of the most poignant moments of the week is the procession of the Black Christ, which takes place entirely within the old town and is considered a highlight of the festivities. Other notable events include the Magna Procession, held every five years, which brings together all the brotherhoods in a grand display of faith and tradition.

Cherry Blossom Festival

Cerezo en Flor is a celebration of nature’s beauty which takes place in the Jerte Valley during March or April, depending on when the cherry trees bloom. This festival, which lasts for about two weeks, transforms the valley into a sea of white blossoms as over one million cherry trees burst into flower.

Valle de Jerte: Cherry Blossom

The tradition of cherry cultivation in the Jerte Valley dates back to the Arab occupation of Spain in the 8th century. Today, the region is famous for its cherries, particularly the Picota variety, which has Protected Designation of Origin status. The Cerezo en Flor festival was established in the 1970s to celebrate this agricultural heritage and attract tourism to the area.

During the festival, visitors can enjoy walks through the blossoming orchards, sample local cherry products and participate in various cultural activities. The event has grown to become one of the most popular spring festivals in Spain, drawing thousands of visitors to witness the spectacular natural display.

Festival de Teatro Clásico de Mérida

The Mérida International Classical Theatre Festival, held annually in July and August, is one of the most prestigious cultural events in Extremadura. This festival, which takes place in the ancient Roman Theatre of Mérida, brings classical Greek and Roman plays to life in a setting that has remained largely unchanged for two millennia.

The festival was first held in 1933, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Spain. It was revived in 1953 and has been held annually since then, except for a brief hiatus in the 1980s. The Roman Theatre of Mérida, built in 15 BC, provides a stunning backdrop for the performances, allowing audiences to experience classical theatre in much the same way as spectators did two thousand years ago.

In addition to theatre performances, the festival includes concerts, exhibitions and other cultural activities. It has become a major draw for tourists and theatre enthusiasts, contributing significantly to Mérida’s cultural and economic life during the summer months.

Los Empalaos de Valverde de la Vera

Los Empalaos is held on Maundy Thursday in the small town of Valverde de la Vera. It is one of the most solemn and visually striking religious processions in Extremadura. This centuries-old tradition, which forms part of the Holy Week celebrations, sees penitents known as ’empalaos’ walk barefoot through the town’s streets with their arms bound to a wooden cross.

The origins of Los Empalaos can be traced back to the 16th century, when it began as a form of penance for grave sins. Today, participants often undertake the ritual to fulfil a personal vow or to give thanks for answered prayers. The procession begins at midnight and continues into the early hours of Good Friday, creating a haunting and deeply moving spectacle. Despite its intensity, Los Empalaos has become an important cultural event, attracting visitors from across Spain and beyond.

Fiesta de la Tenca

Held at the end of August the Tench Festival is an annual gastronomic fair which rotates amongst the 15 towns of the Tajo-Salor-Almonte region. Established in 1989 to celebrate the tench, a prized freshwater fish central to local cuisine, the festival offers visitors the chance to taste this delicacy, participate in fishing and cooking competitions and enjoy exhibitions, craft displays and family-friendly activities. The event culminates with the prestigious ‘Tenca de Oro’ award which honours notable figures from Extremadura in culture, politics, sports and beyond.

Día de la Luz Festival

The Día de la Luz is celebrated annually on Easter Monday in Arroyo de la Luz in honour of the town’s patron saint, the Virgin of Light. Recognized as an event of regional tourist interest, it blends religious tradition with lively community celebration.

The festival begins at 9am with a procession from the Parish Church of the Assumption in the Plaza Mayor to the Plaza de San Sebastián. At this point, they collect the statue of the Virgin of Light and carry the statue to her shrine at the Ermita de la Luz. At the shrine a mass is held before the participants return to the town for the subsequent events of the day.

The focus now shifts to the town’s main street, La Corredera, for the festival’s most thrilling spectacle – horse races. Skilled riders showcase their horsemanship, galloping their adorned steeds up and down the street as spectators line the route. In recent years, decorative floats with historical and local themes have been added to the pageantry.

Throughout the day, locals open their homes to visitors, offering wine and hospitality. The festivities conclude with a return procession to the main square, featuring the participating riders and their horses. An awards ceremony recognizes the best riders, horses and floats.

Festa del Peropalo

The Festa del Peropalo is celebrated annually during Carnival in Villanueva de la Vera (Cáceres). At the heart of the festival is the Peropalo, a life-sized effigy which serves as the central figure of the festivities. Created by local ‘peropaleros’, this straw-filled figure is dressed in black, with a white handkerchief around its neck and a black hat. The festival begins on Carnival Sunday when the effigy is paraded through the town’s streets, accompanied by rhythmic drumbeats and the singing of traditional verses.

Over the course of three days, Peropalo becomes the focal point of various rituals, including mock trials and processions where participants both mourn and ridicule the figure. The climax of the festival takes place on Shrove Tuesday when Peropalo is symbolically sentenced to death in a mock trial for alleged crimes, often with humorous or exaggerated charges. Following the trial, the effigy is paraded once more, this time to its final destination in the town square, where it is burned amid great fanfare, marking the end of the carnival and the transition into Lent.

The roots of the festival are thought to lie in pre-Christian winter rituals aimed at driving away evil spirits and welcoming the rebirth of nature in spring. Today, the Peropalo celebration remains a colourful and lively example of Extremadura’s cultural heritage which unites the local community.

Medieval Festival of Alburquerque

Every August, the town of Alburquerque transforms into a medieval wonderland during the Festival Medieval Villa de Alburquerque, recognized as a Festival of Tourist Interest in Extremadura. Overlooked by the imposing Luna Castle, the streets come alive with the sights, sounds and customs of the Middle Ages, offering visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time.

The festival, centred around the love story of Doña Inés de Castro and Don Pedro Cruz, immerses participants in the daily life of Arabs, Jews and Christians of that era. Visitors can explore the walled medieval quarter and enjoy a rich program of activities including theatrical performances, concerts, markets, guided tours and parades, all designed to recreate the atmosphere of medieval times.

International Folk Music Festival of Plasencia

Since its inception in 1996, the ‘Festival Internacional de Música Folk Plasencia’ has grown into a significant event in the folk music calendar, attracting up to 20,000 attendees over its three-day program. From its earliest editions, the festival has prioritized the quality of its performers, featuring renowned artists such as Gwendal, Carlos Núñez, Kepa Junkera and Luar na Lubre. This commitment to showcasing prestigious national and international folk musicians has solidified the festival’s reputation as a reference point for enthusiasts of folk music.

The event’s success is evident not only in its impressive attendance figures but also in its ability to draw loyal fans from beyond Plasencia, who return year after year to experience the best of folk music. This annual gathering in late August has become a highly anticipated event for both locals and visitors, cementing its place as a premier folk music festival.

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