May 4 to 25 Annual fiestas of San Isidro Labrador in Yecla
A float parade and plenty of conviviality as Yecla celebrates the Patron Saint of farmers and agriculture
Every year in mid-May in Yecla, reflecting the town’s agricultural heritage, local fiestas are celebrated in honour of San Isidro, the patron saint of farmers and agriculture.
The veneration of San Isidro in the area has its roots a long way back. In 1710 there was already a well named after the saint (San Isidro El Viejo), but it was not until the 1940s that an image representing the medieval Castilian farmer who was canonized in 1622 was installed in the Basílica de la Purísima. Over the following few years the tradition of a parade featuring carriages or floats developed, and this has now become the main event of the Fiestas in Yecla.
After the official Queen and Ladies in Waiting of the fiestas have been proclaimed there follow various Holy Masses, musical evenings, parades and folk dancing events, with the festivities culminating on the Saturday which falls closest to the feast day of San Isidro on 15th May in the parade known as the Gran Cabalgata de Carrozas.
The floats in this spectacular event are the result of thousands of man hours of preparation, beginning with the design, following which the wooden or metal structure is erected on tractor trailers. There then follows the laborious and painstaking task of decorating the structure with 7-centimetre pieces of silk or manila paper which are crumpled and fixed to the framework.
Floats can be up to six metres long and a similar height, meaning that tens of thousands of strips of paper are used in creating the finished article. The scenes they depict are all related to Yecla and local agriculture.
The members of the “peñas” (or festive and folk groups) which prepare the floats dress for the Saturday parade in traditional local costume, and the event is a riot of colour as confetti rains down on the participants and spectators. The atmosphere is enlivened still further by the wine and food which are distributed to all those present, and at the end of the event prizes are awarded for the best floats.
Saturday May 4
18.00: The fiestas queen sets out from the Fiestas Federation in Calle Hospital 15 along Calle Hospital, Calle Jabonerías, Calle Numancia, Calle Escuelas Pías and Calle Donantes de Sangre to her home in Calle Fausto Soriano, where she remains until 18.30.
18.30: The processional group continues to the home of the children’s queen along Calle
Fausto Soriano, Calle Mariano Yago, Calle Alcalde Pacheco, Calle Donantes de Sangre, Calle Escuelas Pías, Calle Valencia, Calle Camino Real, Calle Del Carmen, Callae San Luis, Avda. de La Paz, Calle Traviesa de La Paz, Calle Traviesa de la Libertad and Plaza Alcalde José Martínez Sánchez.
19.10: The parade begins along Plaza José Martínez Sánchez, Calle Travesía de La Libertad, Avda. de la Paz, Calle Colón, Calle San Francisco to the Parque de la Constitución and the theatre.
20.00: Opening speech of the fiestas at the Teatro Concha Segura.
Friday May 10
The Los Ventorrillos fairground opens at 21.00 INAUGURACIÓN DE LOS VENTORRILLOS.
23.00: Live music from Cuervos Blancos.
The fairground remains open until May 19 from 17.00 every day.
Saturday May 11
9.30: Gachasmigas for all at Los Ventorrillos.
18.00: Broach-making workshop for people aged 11 to 35 at the Sótano de Cazadores: registration by WhatsApp on 644 669305.
19.30: Folk music and dancing festival at the Teatro Concha Segura.
23.00: La Jungla Music Show at Los Ventorrillos.
Sunday May 12
9.15: The fiestas queen and children’s queen repeat the same itinerary as on May 4 with a parade beginning at 10.15, reaching the Basílica at 11.00.
12.00: Following Mass, the Procession and Offering to San Isisdro Labrador. Route: Calle Juan Ortuño, Calle Pintor Aguirre, Calle Niño Jesús, Calle Hospital, Calle Cruz de Piedra, Calle San Isidro, Calle Padre Lasalde, Calle Concepción, Calle Cervantes, Calle Maestro Mora, Calle San José, Calle San Francisco, Plaza de España and the atrium. The offering is made here.
Monday May 13
21.00: Musical bingo at Los Ventorrillos.
Tuesday May 14
Reduced prices at the fairground in Los Ventorrillos.
Wednesday May 15
20.30: The traditional meal of bread and olive oil at Los Ventorrillos.
23.00: DJD music at Los Ventorrillos.
Thursday May 16
18.00: The fiestas queen and children’s queen repeat the same itinerary as on May 4 with a parade beginning at 19.05 to the Plaza Mayor.
20.00: Parade from the Town Hall to Los Ventorrillos with the flags and standards of the “peñas” (participating groups).
20.30: The Act of Homage to the Peñas at Los Ventorrillos.
23.00: Local talent show and bands at Los Ventorrillos.
Friday May 17
19.00: Following an official march to the homes of the fiestas queen and children’s queen, the Federation parades to the Basílica along Plaza Alcalde José Martínez Sánchez, Calle Travesía de La Libertad, Avda. de la Paz, Calle Colón and Calle San Francisco.
19.30: The procession begins from the Basílica to the church of Santa Bárbara. Route: Plaza de España, Calle Martínez Corbalán, Plaza Mayor, Calle Epifanio Ibáñez, Calle Horma del Niño, Calle Niño Jesús, Calle Santa Bárbara, Calle Jumilla, Calle Juan Ortuño, Calle España, Calle San Isidro, Calle Cruz de Piedra, Calle Corredera, Plaza Mayor, Calle Martínez Corbalán and back to the Plaza de España and the entrance of the Basílica de la Purísima.
23.00: Live music from Sr Aliaga at Los Ventorrillos.
Saturday May 18: the Float Parade
10.00 to 14.00: Wine tasting at the old railway station organized by Bodegas La Purísima.
10.00: The floats gather around the old station.
17.00: The float parade begins. Route: Calle Maestro Mora, Calle San José, Calle Pascual Amat, Calle Francisco Azorín, Calle Carlos III, Calle Colón, Calle San Antonio, Calle Arcipreste Esteban Díaz and the Antigua Estación.
23.00: Live music from La Óxido at Los Ventorrillos.
Sunday May 19
19.00: Prizes are awarded at Los Ventorrillos for the best floats in the previous day’s parade.
Saturday May 25
Community day of festivity in Raspay:
12.00: The peñas gather in Raspay.
18.00: Holy Mass followed by a parade through the streets.
If visiting Yecla don’t forget to make sure one of your first ports of call is the tourist office (Plaza Mayor, 1, email turismo@yecla.es, telephone 968 754104).
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Address
Plaza Mayor, Casa de los Arcos, s/n 30510 YECLATel: 968 754 104
Oficina de Turismo de Yecla
Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia, home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.
While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and an identity quite different from the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.
Yecla borders with Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Valencia and is closer to Alicante coastal areas than much of Murcia. These visitors come to see the historic old town itself - an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history - the natural beauty of Monte Arabí, with stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the gastonomy and of course the wine route.
Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.
The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.
There is parking close to the tourist office, although those driving to Yecla for the first time are advised to park in Calle Perales.
For further information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 8.00 to 15.00
Saturdays 10.30 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.30.
Public holidays 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Yecla tourist office
