February 2 to 24 The annual Carnival celebrations in Aguilas

Águilas hosts the biggest and most spectacular Carnival celebrations in the Region of Murcia

The definitive calendar for the 2024 Carnival celebrations in Águilas, an annual event which has been granted International Tourist Interest status, has been published, with the fiestas lasting this year from February 2 to 24.

The main events of Carnaval 2024 in Águilas include the following:

Friday February 2

22.00: The 20th annual National Drag Queen gala and contest at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera.

Saturday February 3

9.00 to 14.00: The Carnival sailing regatta in the “Llaüt” class takes place at the Club Náutico de Águilas.

21.00: The Grand Gala at which the official Carnival offices and titles are handed over by the 2023 dignitaries to those named for 2024, at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera.

Sunday February 4

9.00: The 28th annual Carnaval de Águilas duathlon event takes place outside the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

9.00: The Carnival sailing regatta continues at the Club Náutico de Águilas, including the competition for the 11^th annual "Estrella de Levante" trophy.

12.00: The 15^th annual "Música de Carnaval" festival featuring town bands at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

20.00: The 23^rd annual paper costume and body make-up contest at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera. This is an extraordinary event with magnificent costumes which it is hard to believe are made of paper. Tickets are sold by the Federation of Carnival Peñas.

Monday February 5

20.00: Prizes are awarded at the Casa de la Cultura "Francisco Rabal" for the "Carnaval de Águilas 2024" literature competition.

Tuesday February 6

19.00: Prizes are awarded for the schools’ writing and drawing competitions at the Casa de la Cultura "Francisco Rabal".

Thursday February 8

22.30: The main events of Carnival begin with the 24^th “Suelta de la Mussona”, the release of the carnal beast of Carnival from the castle, from where it makes its way down to the town centre amid taunting and provocation from the assembled crowds! The Mussona arrives in the Plaza de España at approximately 23.45, to be greeted by firecrackers and the opening of the “chiringuito” open-air bars.

(The Mussona is a figure which represents the dual nature of man, as both something wild, the beast within and man seen from outside, a way of expressing the battle between order and chaos; this is essentially what Carnival is all about!)

Friday February 9

9.30: Schools’ parades at the primary and secondary schools of Águilas.

20.15: A traditional ceremony in the Plaza de España to weigh the main figures in the Carnival and donate their weight in products to local good causes.

20.00: 34^th annual competition at the camp of the Federación de Peñas to find the best “Cuerva” (a local liqueur typical of the Carnvial celebrations).

During the evening the “chirigota” groups Las Esturreás and Ni Chirigota, Ni Chirigoto perform in the streets of Águilas (chirigotas are satirical folk songs which are typically sung by costumed performers during Carnival, and have their origins in Cádiz, in the south-west of Spain).

20.30: The children’s Mussona beast is released.

21.30: After the junior Mussona arrives in the Plaza de España the children’s battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal is held and the opening speech for children is given. During this battle, supporters of Don Carnal and Dona Cuaresma pelt each other with “Cascarones” (eggs which have been blown out and filled with confetti): a noisy, fun event!

Saturday February 10

18.30: The Trofeo Mussona regatta trophy is awarded at the Club Náutico de Águilas.

22.00: The Plaza de España hosts the main battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal, followed by the Carnival opening speech and the welcome of the Mayoress.

Sunday February 11

18.00: The first of the grand parades of this year’s Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III. Seats to watch the main parades can be booked in advance: click here for details.

Monday February 12

Midnight: Carnaval de Noche, the night Carnival in the Plaza de España.

Tuesday February 13

18.00: The second of the grand parades of this year’s Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Thursday February 15

20.00 and 22.00: The traditional Carnival performances of "Los ciegos, ciegos perdíos" at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena”.

Friday February 16

18.00: The parade of visiting “comparsas” (or Carnival troupes) from other parts of the country in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III. This is the 26^th time the event has been held.

20.00 and 22.00: The traditional Carnival performances of "Los ciegos, ciegos perdíos" at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena”.

Saturday February 17

18.00: The second of the grand parades of this year’s Carnival, with floats and carriages in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Midnight (or when the parade ends): The ceremonial burning of the figure of Don Carnal, followed by fireworks, in the Puerto de Poniente.

This in turn is followed by the awarding of the Carnaval de Águilas 2024 prizes in the Plaza de España.

Saturday February 24

21.00: The national Chirigotas competition and gala performance at the Auditorio y Palacio de congresos "Infanta Doña Elena".

If visiting Águilas, your first port of call should be the local tourist office (click here for map, telephone 0034 968 493 285, email turismo@aguilas.es).

For more local events, news and visiting information you can go to the home page of Águilas Today

Image: Ayuntamiento de Águilas