ARCHIVED - 14th February to 14th March, 2020 Carnival in Águilas

The principal Carnival activities take place between the 20th and 29th February 2020

Águilas Carnival is the largest and most spectacular in the Region of Murcia

Spot oficial del Carnaval 2020 🎭...comienza la cuenta atrás #Carnaval2020 #CarnavaldeÁguilas #Águilasciudaddelcarnaval #Águilas #ÁguilasMurcia #interésturísticointernacional pic.twitter.com/lCHz5AW8k2

— AYTO. DE ÁGUILAS (@AYUNTAGUILAS) January 29, 2020

The Carnival of Águilas is justifiably the best known in the Region of Murcia, as well as the largest, and is renowned for its flamboyant costumes, perfectly synchronised dance groups, humorous presentation, glamour and acres of feathers and glitz.

The parades are the biggest and longest, three of them featuring the Águilas carnival "peñas" (or troupes) themselves and one in which invited peñas from other parts of Spain take part.

The scale of the Carnival (or "Carnaval" in Spanish) is such that the festivities have been awarded the official status of "Fiestas of International Tourism Interest" . There are parades throughout the main week, which in 2020 begins occupies the last seven days of February, with a number of activities leading up to the last few days of partying.

Águilas is always busy and buzzing for Carnival week and all accommodation is packed solid, so if you would like to reserve a hotel, camping site or book seats for a large group for one of the main parades, then it’s advisable to do so as far in advance as possible. Click here for accommodation information - Águilas accommodation options - and keep an eye out for details of the all-night bus service which ferries revellers back to their accommodation on the nights of the main events: this will be published on as soon as it is made available. 

The Tourist Office in Águilas is always happy to help and can assist in any aspect of arranging a visit to the town. Click to contact Águilas Tourist Information Office.

The main Carnival processions in Águilas in 2020 are on 23rd, 25th, 28th and 29th February

Because the parades are so long - between two and four horus - seats are sold in advance on the the specially constructed stands which line the streets for the main events. Although these are sold in advance by the peñas, there are generally plenty still available and tickets can be purchased on the night, although if you have a health issue and need to sit, or if you are part of a large group, it is worth making sure of seats in advance.

There are plenty of places to stand and watch the parade go by, particularly near the start point and after the parade turns the corner off the Avenida Juan Carlos into Rey Carlos III, and some Carnival veterans bring a chair, a blanket for their knees and a hot flask! At the same time there are plenty of cafés open behind the parade route to purchase a warming cup of coffee and a cognac should the night air prove a little nippy. However, buying a seat in the stands helps to support this carnival, which costs an absolute fortune to produce.

As well as the Carnival parades there are a number of other activities, including the famous battle between Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma, the "Batalla de Cascarones" (the Battle of Eggshells), a paper costume and body make-up competition, the annual drag queen competition, the release of the "Mussona" beast from the castle and its descent into the town and "la cuerva", a famous drink of the Águilas Carnival.

Don Carnal, the embodiment of the Carnival spirit, is much in evidence, and in the Batalla de Cascarones his supporters and those of Doña Cuaresma (who represents the austerity of Lent) hurl confetti filled eggshells at each other: it sounds ludicrous but it is a noisy, fun and spectacular event! In preparation, for months leading up to the Carnival, eggs are blown rather than broken, the shells are carefully dried and stored, and then older family members and children fill them with confetti, sealing the ends with tissue paper stuck down using a mixture of flour and water.

Although regularly broken onto the heads of passers-by during the fiestas, thousands of them are used during the Batalla de Cascarones.

Buying Tickets for Águilas Carnaval

All parades follow a route along Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III to the port (click for map, Avenida Juan Carlos I).

Seats in Avenida Juan Carlos I may be purchased in advance or on the day from the Carnival Peña and help to pay for the huge cost of putting on the carnival. Tickets are on sale in Calle Rey Carlos III (next to the tobacconist) at the headquarters of the federation between 5 and 8pm in the evening from the 15th January onwards, Monday-Saturday or on the day of the parades.

Tickets in the stands are 25 euros for all 4 days or 10 euros for one day, while chairs at street level are 5 euros.

On the day of the parades seats are sold in Calle Rey Carlos III next to Cuplé, or in Avenida Juan Carlos I alongside the Banco Sabadell.

If you are a group and need a larger number of seats, contact the federation of peñas, Sr Ángel on 629 494669 (Spanish speaking only).

This year, the federation is once again providing an online booking service for ticket sales, enabling those outside the area to book in advance and then print out their receipts. The system comes into service on 15th January at 10.00 and can be accessed here.

In order to make a purchase it is necessary to first register as a user, (click Nuevo Usuario) before moving on to purchase tickets. These will then be sent to your email address. Prices are 12 euros for the parades on 23rd and 29th February, 10 euros for 25th February and 3 euros for 28th February. 

To contact the tourist office if you need help, accommodation or for further info, call 968 493285.

Disabled spectators

This year for the first time a zone in the Plaza de España has been allocated for those with disabilities or reduced mobility to enable them to enjoy the activities in this area including the Suelta de la Mussona or battles of the eggs. In order to access this area, prior authorisation should be requested from the Oficina de Atención Ciudadana of the Town Hall of Águilas before the 17th February. Solicitees will be required to submit certification of their disabled status.

Parking advice

The main drive in to central Águilas is sealed off by police during the Carnival, and a good parking spot is along the edge of the rambla (or floodwater channel) which runs through the centre of the town: if approaching from the motorway turn right just before the road is blocked off, and from here it’s a 5-minute walk to the main parade route.

As is to be expected during such a major event, parking is far from easy and the Águilas Plaza shopping mall plays its part by helping out and making its 1,044 spaces available free of charge on the main parade days (21^st, 22nd, 28th and 29th February, and on Sunday 23^rd until 1.00 in the morning). The 1,044 parking spaces in the mall are not exactly next door to the route of the main Carnival processions, but a 25-minute walk is not an unfeasible option and there are also additional bus services in operation for the evenings of the main parades.

At the same time, the car park next to the railway station in Calle Juan Pablo II is also open to residents and visitors, offering space for a further 400 cars, and in addition the Town Hall recommends the parking which is available in the El Rubial and Las Yucas districts.

Carnival Schedule 2020:

Friday 14^th February

21.00: The grand opening gala for children taking part in the parades with the handing over of powers and roles between the main characters of the carnival from 2019 to 2020. Venue: Pabellón Multiusos in the Polideportivo Municipal.

Saturday 15^th February

21.00: It’s the turn of the adults to enjoy their own opening gala, with honorary positions and powers being handed over from the 2019 incumbents to those appointed in 2020. Venue: Pabellón Multiusos in the Polideportivo Municipal.

Sunday 16^th February

9.00: Grand Carnaval de Águilas Duathlon (26^th edition) taking place alongside the Auditorio Infanta Elena.

The first leg of the 2020 Carnival sailing regatta takes place at the Águilas sailing club, the Club Náutico de Águilas.

12:00. Festival of musical bands at the Auditorio Infanta Elena, entry free of charge, several local bands taking part (XII Festival Nacional de Bandas de Música de Carnaval).

21.00: Competition for the best paper costumes and body make-up. This is quite extraordinary, some of the costumes are magnificent and it’s really difficult to believe they’re made of paper. Tickets are sold by the Federation of Carnival Peñas. The winning costumes will parade in the main processions. (XX Concurso de Trajes de Papel y Maquillaje Corporal). Tickets 10 euros online from www.bacantix.com.

Tuesday 18^th February

20.00: The 27th annual literary competition reveals its winners and printed book accompanying this year's festivities is officially presented at the Casa de Cultura Francisco Rabal.

Wednesday 19^th February

19.00: Children's drawing and writing competition, run by the local schools, prizes are awarded in the Casa de la Cultura Francisco Rabal.

Thursday 20^th February

22.30: La Suelta de la Mussona

The Mussona is a man or woman dressed as a hissing, spitting beast wearing a costume created from natural materials, and is released from the Explanada of the Castle along with its handler before making its way down to the Plaza de España, where the event to begin the Carnival takes place.

The Mussona is a figure which represents the dual nature of man as both something wild, the beast within, and civilized man on the outside, a way of expressing the battle between order and chaos - which is essentially what Carnival is all about!

The Mussona arrives in the Plaza de España at around 23.45 and there are fireworks at midnight.

Friday 21^st February

9.30: Local schoolchildren hold their own mini parades, in the schools themselves.

20.00: The competition begins to find the best “cuerva” in Águilas, this being a fruity punch drink with a hefty alcohol content. Venue: the headquarters of the Federation of Peñas.

20.00: The children’s Mussona leaves the Plaza Gutiérrez Mellado, heading for the Plaza de España.

20.15: The traditional ceremony of weighing the main figures in the Carnival, with their weight in local products being donated to various good causes. Venue: Plaza de España.

21.30: In the Plaza de España the formal welcome speeches for the children’s carnival are given, followed by the children’s battle of the eggshells in which supporters of Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma pelt each other with confetti filled “cascarones” (eggs which have been blown out and filled with confetti). This is a noisy, fun event!

Saturday 22nd February

18.30: The “Mussona” trophy for the Carnival sailing regatta is presented at the Club Náutico.

22.00: The official Carnival begins for the adults with speeches by the Mayoress and a guest celebrity, followed by battle of confetti eggs between adult supporters of Don Carnal and Doña Cuaresma. Another noisy, fun event in which supporters of both camps pelt each other with confetti-filled eggs… venue: Plaza de España.

Sunday 23rd February

18.00: The first grand parade of the 2020 Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Monday 24^th February

Midnight: The night Carnival in the Plaza de España.

Tuesday 25th February

18.00: The second grand parade with floats and carriages manned by the members of the Carnival “peñas”.

Thursday 27th February

20.00 and 22.00: "Los Ciegos, Ciegos Perdíos” by La Murga in the Auditorio Infanta Eleña.

Friday 28^th February

18.00: The 25^th annual “Concurso Nacional de Comparsas Foráneas”, a competition for Carnival troupes from outside Águilas who have been invited to take part this year. These groups come from all over Spain and the parade is a spectacular one. Venue: Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

19.00, 21.00 and 23.30: "Los Ciegos, Ciegos Perdíos” by La Murga at the Auditorio Infanta Eleña.

Saturday 29th February

18.00: The third and last parade of carriages and floats with all of the Águilas peñas taking part in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Following the parade, Don Carnal is seized in the Plaza de España and taken down to the beach of La Colonia, where he is executed in grand style on the bonfire at around midnight: an effigy is burnt representing Don Carnal, followed by an enormous Carnival fireworks display to end the celebrations.

After this, the Peñas return to the Plaza de España where the prizes are awarded for this year’s parades.

Saturday 7th March

22.00: The 17^th annual National Drag Queen competition at the Auditorio Infanta Elena.

Saturday 14^th March

21.00: The 5^th annual “chirigotas” festival at the Auditorio Infanta Elena – a chirigota is a Carnival musical groups specializing in ironic and witty songs about topical issues.

More information about Águilas including beaches, what to see, what's on and tourist information can be found on ÁGUILAS TODAY

Click here for photogallery from 2017

Click here for further images from 2017