May 3-5 The unmissable San Javier Air Festival
Aerobatic demonstrations, pilot training, markets, music and more in San Javier this weekend!
San Javier is gearing up for the biggest event on its social calendar this weekend, when the world-famous Air Festival will run between Friday May 3 and Sunday May 5. The event is packed to the brim with exciting events and activities such as aerobatic demonstrations, music concerts, pilot training, virtual reality and more.
Air shows
Two patrols, PAPEA and Águila, will open and close the spectacular air show on Sunday May 5. More than 50 aircraft will participate, representing different types such as sports, historical, general, ultra-light, experimental, advanced and acrobatic aviation.
This unmissable display will take place above the beaches of Santiago de la Ribera for four uninterrupted hours, between 11am and 3pm.Some highlights of the programme include the parachute exhibition by the Air Force, vintage planes from the Valencian Air Foundation, a display of helicopters from the National Police and Guardia Civil and appearances by the Quintana Foundation's Quijote formation, Spanish saeta jet and French formation Vertical Flight.
Pilot training
Over the course of the weekend, the epicentre of the action will be at El Pescador beach, but spectators will have a great view of all the demonstrations along the two kilometres of coastline from the AGA to the Ciudad del Aire.
As a special treat, the professional pilots will take to air in training exercises on Friday May 3 between 4pm and 8pm and on Saturday May 4 from 10am to 2pm, and again from 4pm until 8pm.
Other activities
There’s no shortage of exciting entertainment in San Javier this weekend. All of the free activities will take place over the next three days on the Barnuevo esplanade and the promenade.A Play Zone will operate in the mornings and afternoons, with aerial simulators, VR glasses, drones and children’s activities, among others, on the esplanade.
There’s also plenty of music scheduled with concerts by Apache, on Friday at 9.30pm and on Saturday, enjoy Conectados at 9.30pm and the Argentine singer Coti at 11pm. At the closing of the exhibition, on Sunday at 4pm, the music will be provided by local singer Dora Helena.
For the avid aviators, the pilots will be signing autographs on the Barnuevo esplanade and aeronautical-themed markets along Paseo Colón on Saturday, between the hours of 11.30am and 1.30pm.
Finally, the area of the old Los Arcos hospital will host up to ten Food Trucks.
Parking areas and other services
The councillor coordinating the event, Héctor Verdú, announced the creation of seven parking lots that will represent 14,000 parking spaces. Two of the parking spaces will be located on the two large free lots on Avenida Patrol Águila, where one with 200 parking spaces for caravans has also been set up.
The parking lots set up in San Javier and El Mirador will have a shuttle bus that will operate Saturday and Sunday and will be located in San Javier next to the roundabout entrance on AP 7 from Cartagena, in the area of the Los Urreas cemetery and industrial estate and next to to the fairgrounds. On Sunday another one will open on RM1 El Mirador.
To facilitate the event, the council plans to close off the area from Paseo Colón to Querubina Meroño, calle Cánovas del Castillo to traffic throughout the weekend. The road next to Barnuevo esplanade will also be closed to cars.
Also, on Sunday, during the time of the exhibition, Bartolomé Paños Avenue will be closed from Puerta del Mar, following Virgen de Loreto Avenue, Ronda de Poniente and España Avenue.
Mr Verdú confirmed that a total of 45 portable toilets will be installed, along with nine health care points, which will be added to the mobile units, as well as two tourist service points.
For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of San Javier Today
Images: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
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 a tourist information point located in the San Javier Airport, as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor.
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.
San Javier - Oficina Municipal de Turismo 
Municipal Tourism Office
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Príncipe de Asturias (Click for map: Centro Cultural Príncipe de Asturias)
30720 Santiago de la Ribera - SAN JAVIER
Tel: 968 571 704
Opening Times:
Peak season, 1st July to 15th September: Monday to Friday 10am to 2 pm and 5.30pm to 8.30pm
Mid season, 16th September to 31st October, and from Easter Week to 30th June: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 7pm
Low season, 1st November to Easter Week: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.00pm and 4pm to 6.30pm
Saturday in Low Season and Saturday, Sunday and Holidays in Mid and Peak Seasons: 10.30am to 1.30pm.
San Javier - Punto de Información Turistica Plaza de España
Tourist information office in the Plaza de España
Plaza de España, 3, 30730 SAN JAVIER
Tel.: 968 573 700 ext. #5351
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2pm
Click for map: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
Oficina de Turismo de Santiago de la Ribera
The tourist office in Santiago de la Ribera is located a little way back from the seafront in the public garden on Calle Padre Juan (click for map).
Telephone: 661 572 285
Opening hours
1st July to 15th September: Mon-Fri 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.30 to 20.30, weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.30.
16th September to 31st October and Easter to 30th June: Mon-Fri 9.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00, weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.30.
1st November to Easter: Mon-Fri 9.00 to 14.00 and 16.00 to 18.00, weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.30.
Oficina de Turismo de La Manga del Mar Menor
Tourist information office in La Manga del Mar Menor
Address: Gran Vía Km. 0, La Manga del Mar Menor, 30380.
Tel: 968 146 136
Opening Hours:
Low season (1st October to 30th April):
Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 18:00
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays - 10:30 to 13:00
Peak season (1st May to 30th September):
Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 19:00
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays - 10:30 to 13:00
Click for map: Oficina de Turismo de La Manga del Mar Menor
Punto de Información Turística de La Manga
Tourism information point on La Manga
Address: Playa Mistral, Gran Vía km. 12-13
Opening Hours:
Peak season, 15th June to 15th September: Every day from 11:00 to 18:00.
Low season, closed
Click for map: Punto de Información Turistica La Manga del Mar Menor
