July 12 to August 2 Annual fiestas in Santiago de la Ribera
A host of free concerts, processions including the maritime procession and a whole lot more as Santiago de la Ribera celebrates the Virgen del Carmen and the feast day of Santiago Apóstol
Two of the most important dates in the annual calendar of the municipality of San Javier fall during July, the first of them on the 16th, the day of the Virgen del Carmen. The figure of the Virgin, the patron of fishermen and sailors, is carried out onto the Mar Menor on board a boat and petals are strewn into the water in memory of those who have died at sea, while back on land the celebrations are a mixture of the popular and the religious.
Not long afterwards, on July 25, is the feast Day of Santiago Apóstol, the patron saint of Santiago de la Ribera, and activities again include concerts, include open-air dancing, performances, a procession, fireworks and numerous other activities.
Almost all of the events scheduled are free of charge, with the main venue being the seafront promenade of Explanada Barnuevo.
The full program for the fiestas in Santiago de la Ribera in the summer of 2025 includes the following:
Saturday July 12
22.00: Gala to celebrate the “Ribereño” of the year, Javier Sánchez Carrasco, on the Explanada Barnuevo.
23.00: Live music, salsa, merengue and bachata from La Crema Band on the Explanada Barnuevo.
This is followed by a fireworks display.
Sunday July 13
Comedy on the Explanada Barnuevofrom Miky Dkai, Alvarito and Makeba.
Tuesday July 15
20.00: Offering of hygiene products for the FUNDAMIFP charity at the Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen in the Barrio de los Pescadores.
Wednesday July 16
20.30: Holy Mass in honour of the Virgen del Carmen at the Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen, with music from the Rondalla de Santiago Apóstol.
21.00: Procession of the figure of the Virgen del Carmen.
22.00: An evening of music with the Trio Cantares.
Thursday July 17
20.00: Children’s Day on the Explanada Barnuevo with pedal karts, tattoos, 360º video, karaoke, Just Dance and much more.
Friday July 18
22.30: Choir and Rondallas concert on the Explanada Barnuevo, the 19th time this annual event has been held.
Saturday July 19
22.30: Live music from the Jurassic Band on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Sunday July 20
8.30: Holy Mass in honour of the Virgen del Carmen at the Capilla de la Virgen del Carmen.
9.00: Procession of the figure of the Virgen del Carmen from Avenida Sandoval to the jetty.
10.30: The Virgin boards her boat for the maritime procession.
22.00: The magnificent Zoot Suiters offer a free concert as part of the San Javier Jazz Festival.
Tuesday July 22
22.30: Live music from Los Happys on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Wednesday July 23
22.30: Live music from Marty McFlay on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Thursday July 24
8.30: Offering of non-perishable goods at the parish church of Santiago Apóstol.
22.30: Live music from Orquesta Athenas on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Friday July 25, the Feast Day of Santiago Apóstol
9.00: An early morning parade to wake the population up!
12.00: The traditional “cucaña competition, walking a greasy pole over the sea. The winner takes a complete ham as his prize!
20.00: Holy Mass in honour of Santiago Apóstol at the parish church,
21.00: Procession in honour of Santiago Apóstol, accompanied by the “Californianos” brotherhood of Cartagena.
The procession is followed by fireworks.
22.30: Live music from +dManá on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Saturday July 26
22.30: Live music from Los Parrandboleros on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Sunday July 27
9.00: Ribera Bike tour, registration at Bicis La Ribera, Avenida Bartolomé Baños Pérez nº 16.
22.30: 21st annual Mar Menor choir concert on the Explanada Barnuevo.
Saturday August 2
21.00: The Summer Carnival parade on the Explanada Barnuevo.
23.00: The Carnival party begins.
Midnight: The ceremonial burning of the “caballito” (a papier mâché battered prawn!).
For more local information visit the tourist offices of San Javier or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
