San Lorenzo

In August, Madrid celebrates its most traditional fiestas: San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma. They begin with San Cayetano, in the area of ​​Rastro / Embajadores, continue with San Lorenzo, in Lavapiés, and end with the most important and largest of all, the de la Paloma, in La Latina.

The next of Madrid’s August fiestas (August 9-11) takes place in Lavapiés, one of the city’s most multicultural neighborhoods. Most people wait until dusk to head out and party, the (slightly) cooler temperatures make enjoying a drink and tapas from one of the specially set up street bars a pleasure. The fiestas also include plenty of children’s activities and have a welcoming, family atmosphere.

All the festivals feature many activities with competitions, children’s activities as well as live music performances from local groups which can include marching bands, traditional folk music and the chance to watch dances such as the chotis alongside a selection of other modern music performances that also occur and to help keep you going there are more often than not plenty of market stalls offering a good selection of food and drink.

Street processions also play an important part of the festivals and each of the honored saints is often carried high for all to view and celebrate, the festivals provide the chance for the whole community to come together and there is a real sense of community spirit.

The Madrileños dress up in chulapo suits (traditional period clothes) and dance the chotis in the streets. The most traditional areas of the capital, such as Lavapies, La Latina or las Vistillas, are decorated to celebrate the fiestas of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma. During daytime there are processions dedicated to the Madonna and the saints, and at night open-air festivities that last several days with the participation of the public at large.

These celebrations have a strong community spirit and are an inseparable part of the real Madrid, one that holds dear its traditional image as a party-loving, sociable city with one simple aim – to have a good time. And of course, it extends a very warm welcome to anyone wanting to join in. The programme of events typically includes children’s games and competitions, card tournaments, performances by bands and pop groups, tapas routes and the procession honouring the saint or virgin in whose name the festival is being held.

The neighbours and traders of Madrid’s most traditional neighbourhoods still observe the old custom of decorating the streets where the festivities mostly take place, and every year the Municipal Committee gives a prize to the most attractive façade, street, balcony and urban ensemble.

Men and women between the ages of 16 and 40 can stand for election as the characters from the popular zarzuela operetta La Verbena de la Paloma: La Casta, La Susana, Don Hilarión (older gentlemen can compete for this character) and El Julián; as well as the Maja of Lavapiés.

Street fairs, popular races, mus (a card game) and rana (a coin throwing game) championships, marching bands, lemonade, children’s games, sangria, hot chocolate, dance and organ music, Manila shawl competitions, sardines, secrets, churros, elections to choose the child chulapa and chulapo (girl or boy dressed in traditional local attire), concerts… These are just some of the activities organised within the framework of these festivals for all the family.