5 (or 6!) spring fiestas not to miss during early May in the Region of Murcia!

Flowers, partying, fun, spectacle, religion, poignancy, music and food welcome the spring in the Costa Cálida

For many people May is the best month to be spending time in the Region of Murcia: the weather is warming up nicely after the uncertainty of the previous few months, but we are not yet suffering the blistering heat of later in the summer, the countryside is usually as green as it ever is before the long dry months ahead, the blossoms are on the trees, the air is clear and the sea is becoming warmer by the day!

And visitors or residents from abroad are not the only ones to rejoice in the arrival of spring weather, as all over the Region local fiestas, many of them dating back centuries, herald the season of growth and prosperity. Over the first week or ten days of May there is a real proliferation of popular celebrations, and what follows is just a selection of the best known and most enjoyable!

1. Caravaca de la Cruz: wine, history, horses and tradition

This are without a doubt the most famous of the May fiestas in Murcia and have even been named an element of Intangible Human Heritage by UNESCO. The Fiestas de la Vera Cruz were also the first in the Region of Murcia to be awarded International Tourist Interest status in 2004 (there are now 13 on the list).

The fiestas in honour of the True Cross officially last from 1st to 5th May, although in reality they begin on the 30^th April with “Migas Night”, and the key events this year are the following:

Friday May 1 – the fiestas start with a floral offering and the presentation of the horses which play such an important part in the celebrations, all of them adorned with exquisitely embroidered shawls with gold lace, velvet and silk.

Saturday May 2 – a day to get up early and pack as much as possible into the hours ahead! First to Mass, where the appearance of the Cross in Caravaca is celebrated, and then at midday it’s off to the castle hill for the legendary Running of the Wine Horses. After that, the first skirmishes between the Moors and Christians as the history of Caravaca is commemorated, and then time to calm down with the procession of the True Cross from its sanctuary to the magnificent church of El Salvador.

Sunday May 3 – Coinciding this year with Mothers’ Day in Spain, this is Children’s Day in Caravaca! They have their own Moors and Christians parade and then the adults join combat during the afternoon before the whole town accompanies the True Cross to the Templete, where the relic is used to bless the water.

2. Los Mayos in Alhama: singing, dancing, harlequin jesters, pithy homemade dolls and paellas!

During the first weekend of May the streets of Alhama de Murcia are filled with “peleles” and “monigotes” – in other words, “Los Mayos”. These are homemade tableaux featuring papier maché and Straw dolls, usually representing homely scenes and with ironic dialogues added the scene to make some point!

But the fiestas are far more than a mere exercise in amateur arts and crafts, as three days of intense celebration take hold of the town with the May Crosses, the annual folk singing and dance festival, a market, the “Corremayos” parades and, on Sunday 3^rd May, a surfeit of food and drink!

3. Cartagena fills with May Crosses and music

The centre of Cartagena dresses up to the nines to celebrate the May Crosses, a religious event with pagan roots which takes place on and around 3rd May to commemorate the supposed date of the discovery of the Cross of Christ in the year 326.

Crosses are generally made of flowers, while live music events fill the streets (including a concert this year by Maki y María Artés and a tribute to El Barrio.

Over the long weekend other artists including Suleya, Canela en Rama, Filiu, Micol, Adrián Ruiz, Los Elementos and Maribel Castillo con Faustino are also performing in eight of the city’s main squares, while for youngsters a host of children’s activities are being held on the Cuesta de la Baronesa, next to the Roman Theatre.

4. Abanilla and its fragment of the True Cross celebrate a Holy Jubilee Year in 2026

It is now thought to be 500 years since the Holy Cross appeared in Abanilla, where its presence is an indispensable element of the local identity and the whole town is united in the annual celebrations which culminate in a Romería on 3^rd May: this ends with the bathing of the Cross in the river in the village of Mahoya and then the arrival of the Cross at the church of Santa Cruz.

Here, in an extraordinary ceremony, it is formally presented to the waiting crowds from a canopy, beneath which hangs a large pomegranate. The “captains” then undertake the flag waving ceremony before a child pulls a cord which opens the pomegranate, from which doves fly out, also releasing a shower of water which bathes the cross!

For two weeks the town is immersed in a series of events commemorating the history of the town, with Moorish and Chirstian factions competing in parades and other events: the biggest parade is on 1^st May, when there are very few locals spectating because they’re almost all taking part!

5. Cieza: devotion, floral Crosses and votes of thanks

Cieza is another town where the Day of the Cross on 3rd May is taken extremely seriously, as locals celebrated by carrying the figure of their patron, Santo Cristo del Consuelo, from the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción back to the small church which is her home, having been in the town centre since Easter Week.

Another highlight is the tribute to the “Ciezano Ausente” (The Absent Ciezano), remembering those who for whatever reason ahve had to leave the town but Will comeback when they can.

Meanwhile, all the streets are decorated with their May Crosses, turning Cieza into a real flower garden for the weekend – a charming blend of tradition and shared memories, and a great way to get to know Cieza better! On arrival at the church the Santa Cruz is formally presented to the waiting crowds from beneath a canopy on the side of the church, beneath which hangs a large pomegranate. Following this the captains undertake the flag waving ceremony, which consists of waving the flag half to the right, then half to the left, followed by two complete passes to both the left and the right. This is repeated four times. Following this, a child pulls a cord which opens the pomegranate, from which doves fly out, also releasing a shower of water which bathes the cross. Following this, Mass is held and the townspeople disperse to enjoy family picnics in the park area surrounding the small church.

6. The International Air Show in San Javier

In a rather different category, but still one of the biggest events of the year in the Costa Cálida, the first weekend of May coincides with the International Air Show in Santiago de la Ribera, an event which last year attracted an estimated 180,000 visitors on the Sunday alone!

The main show takes place on Sunday, when the beaches and seafront will be packed with picnicking spectators, but there are a host of events and displays for all ages throughout the long holiday weekend!

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.