We always said that years ago – Flaming June…but as I recall there was never anything remotely hot about it! At least not on Northern European shores…this June book a respite from the damp squib of early British `Summer´ weather and come to Spain instead – let´s see what´s on…
Book a holiday home or apartment with Spain Holiday and choose a place in the sun for a week or two in June. But where´s the best place to go in June? There are plenty of things on next month – Spain is the home of fiesta after all,and the party season is well and truly underway already. Events are planned all over Spain, here are just a few to whet your appetite and get you in the party mood!
We´ve got music, dancing, wine and…….baby jumping?! Intrigued? Let´s go…
Unseasonal events
Do you remember the post New Year in August in Berchules? Well, it seems Spain has a penchant for mixing things up – because starting in a few days time and continuing into June you can enjoy Autumn in Spring in Madrid. Yes, you did read that right!
It´s theatre darling! Every year in May and June, the capital city hosts this event. Festival de Otoño en Primavera, and it has done so to rave reviews since 2008. Theatre performances, dance, concerts, shows, all performed for your pleasure in a large range of venues around town. In all there are 14 theatre titles, 4 dances,and 4 musical events.
Here´s a short video about it: Autumn in Spring Festival in Madrid
The dates for your diary are May 9th until June 3rd.
So book a Madrid apartment now, have a look at these city centre locations.
Festival de Otoño en Primavera
Dancing in the street
Staying with Madrid, the other big fiesta not to be missed is the famous Suma Flamenco Festival. The 7th Annual event takes place for most of the month, and if you love the pure passion of flamenco then it´s one that you will really want to see. The biggest and best names take part in 9 different venues, in and around the city and its´ limits – there are even some classes held if you really want to take the plunge.
Be swept up with the feeling of duende and experience the heart and passion of the culture of this wonderful art form. Expect to see such big light names as:
- María Toledo
- Carmen Linares
- La Moneta
- Valderrama
- Selene Muñoz
- Tomatito
- Blanca del Rey
Passion, colour, music and dance
Rock on
A bit of Rock music more your thing? I love a gig or an outdoor music festival – and having stood in the mud at Glastonbury I also appreciate the added bonus that the Spanish sunshine brings to the day!
Head north to the Basque country to visit Vitoria…that stylish capital of Álava, read more about your destination here.
This is the setting for the Azkena Rock Festival – which takes place over the 14th 15th and 16th of June.
On the bill?
- Blue Oyster Cult
- Twisted Sister
- Dropkick Murphys
- Graveyard
- Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls
- My Morning Jacket
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
and mucho más! One day tickets are €38 and €48.
All you need are long tresses and a matching beard. And a packet of paracetamol. And your passport of course, sorted.
...and the band plays on..
Barcelona….
As the Queen song goes….and Barcelona is where you can catch the Sónar Music Festival in June. The dates to remember are the 16th 17th and 18th. This festival takes place at selected venues across the world taking in Sao Paolo, Cape Town , Tokyo and here in Barcelona showcasing electronic music rather than rock.
Spend €39 for a one day pass or €155 for all three days of music and see all the acts if you´re up to it.Some of the names headlining include the following:
- New Order
- Squarepusher
- Flying Lotus
- Fatboy Slim
- Friendly Fires
- Lana del Rey
You can commute to the festival using the special Sonarbus, which you can catch from the Plaça de Drassanes, Line 3 in the city centre and it runs from 18:30 to 08:30. Catch a Barcelona place to stay for the duration of the festival, have a browse here…
Sónar 20
Corpus Christi and Baby Jumping
The Festival of Corpus Christi is celebrated all over Spain. Even the smallest village will be bedecked in floral tributes with a procession and maybe an outdoor mass. Wherever you choose to spend the 7th June you will be able to take part in something or other traditional. But let´s say you want to experience something a little out of the ordinary….what about baby jumping? What´s that? Yes you did read that right – and it has to be right up there with the more eccentric festivals of this wonderful country!
Close to Burgos, the town of Castrillo de Murcia holds the annual event. The Festival is known as El Salto de Collacho, or just El Colacho – which means the Jumping of the Devil.
Babies, often newborn, are lined up on mattresses in the street, then local men dressed up to represent the Devil jump clear across them, to cleanse them of evil spirits. It´s actually considered an honour to allow your precious bundle of joy to take part, but personally I wouldn´t recommend it! Something tells me the holiday insurance wouldn´t cover it!
However, hundreds of people line up to watch and take part – maybe just join in with the spectators…you can in the meantime read more about this weird festival here…
El Colacho
By Jove – The Silver Screen
From the 15th to the 22nd June, movie goers can indulge their passion in Valencia at the Cinema Jove International Film Festival. Filled with all the art films you can take, a few days of exploring the history of film from around the world and maybe rubbing shoulders with a few famous faces as you tuck into your after show paella? Well, why not – you are in Valencia, after all! This year is the 27th edition of the festival, as at the time of publishing this blog the programme was still unavailable – but there are plenty of nice places to rent and make your popcorn in Valencia, have a look at these for starters….
Now showing...........
More foot tapping
If you want more music and dance then Granada fits the bill from the 22nd June until the 8th of July. The Granada International Festival of Music and Dance will bring together a fusion of Flamenco and Modern Dance. The venues? Well, just try and imagine the incredible setting of the Alhambra Palace? Listen to the strains of your favourite piece as the sun sets over the most romantic backdrop in Spain. Take a seat at:
- Teatro Alhambra
- Teatro del Generalife
- Santa Iglesia Cathedral
- Palacio de Carlos V
- Patio de los Arrayanes
It´s popular and heavily suscribed – with a maximum of 6 tickets per person. Impersonal hotels will also be fully booked - choose a nicer place to stay in Granada with Holiday Spain instead…
Granada - another reason to visit!
Changing water, Throwing wine
Here´s a good one….we do like throwing things and getting wet here in Spain. If we´re not running in front of bulls then we´re throwing tomatoes at each other. Well, June is a month for both water AND wine. Lanjaron in the Alpujarras is famous for the water fight that takes place from the 23rd to the 25th June - Fiesta del Agua…read more about it here.
You´ll just need to bring some old clothes, some more to change into, a towel – oh,and pack your water pistol of course!
La Rioja Grapes ready for harvesting
And the wine? Sacrilege! The region of La Rioja celebrates the morning of June 29th the Batalla de Vino – a wine fight! Maybe get there the night before and salvage what you can! The event is held at Horo. Pack more old clothes – red? – and a straw…
On top of all of these events Spain celebrates San Juan also in June – fires on the beaches, sardines cooked in the street here in my village with the neighbours – nothing tastes better! But that´s another story!
