Aguilas already looking ahead to Carnival as the Christmas season begins!

The main events in Aguilas Carnival 2024 are between February 2 and 24

While most of Spain – most of Europe, if truth be told – is looking forward to the festive season, in Águilas the biggest party of the year is the annual Carnival, which is generally held in February, and in fact the official program for the main events of Carnival has already been published!

Carnival celebrations are now held almost everywhere in the Region of Murcia but those in Águilas are by far the most spectacular, the best attended and the most important. For this reason there is even a museum devoted to Carnival and its costumes and traditions which can be visited all year round!

The highlights of the 2024 Carnival program in Águilas are the following:

Friday February 2

22.00: 20th annual National Drag Queen contest at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera.

Saturday February 3

9.00 to 14.00: Carnival Regatta at the Club Náutico de Águilas.

21.00: The ceremony in which the 2023 Carnival dignitaries pass the baton to their successors in 2024 at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera.

Sunday February 4

9.00: 28th annual "Carnaval de Águilas" duathlon outside the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena.

9.00 to 14.00: Estrella de Levante Regatta at the Club Náutico de Águilas.

12.00: National Carnival music festival at the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena.

20.00: 23^rd Paper Costumes competition and 15^th Body Make-Up competition at the Pabellón Diego Calvo Valera.

Thursday February 8

22.30: The main activities begin with the “Suelta de la Mussona” outside the castle, reaching the Plaza de España at approximately 23.45.

Friday February 9

20.15: The weighing of the Carnival dignitaries and personalities in the Plaza de España.

20.00: The 34th annual “Cuerva” competition at the home of the Federación de Peñas del Carnaval de Águilas (Cuerva is an alcoholic beverage associated with Carnival).

21.30: The children’s battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal in the Plaza de España.

Saturday February 10

22.00: The Battle between Doña Cuaresma and Don Carnal is followed by the official opening speech of Carnival in the Plaza de España.

Sunday February 11

18.00: The first main Carnival parade in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Monday February 12

Midnight: the Night Carnival event begins in the Plaza de España.

Tuesday February 13

18.00: The second main Carnival parade in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Thursday February 15

20.00 and 22.00: "Los ciegos, ciegos perdíos" show at the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena.

Friday February 16

18.00: The national contest for visiting Carnival troupes in a parade on Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

20.00 and 22.00: "Los ciegos, ciegos perdíos" show at the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena.

Saturday February 17

18.00: The third and final main Carnival parade in Avenida Juan Carlos I and Calle Rey Carlos III.

Midnight (approx): The figure of Don Carnal is burnt in a ceremony followed by fireworks in the Puerto de Poniente.

Saturday February 24

21.00: National chirigota competition at the Auditorio Infanta Doña Elena.

If visiting Águilas your first port of call should be the local tourist office (click here for map, telephone 968 493285, email turismo@aguilas.es).

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Águilas Today.