The Carnival of Cadiz

                What is happening from the 3rd to the 13th of March ? (well at least those are the official dates). Have a guess, come on.. No, so you really don't know ? Let's give you some clues. Fiesta, fancy dresses, parades, songs, dances, plays.. Yes, it is the legendary Carnival of Cadiz that will be taking place ! The preparations and festivities are celebrated weeks prior to the official dates with popular food festivals as a taster of what is to come. These carnivals are recognised as Festivals of International Tourist Interest, and have many entertaining characteristics making it a unique event and one of the largest in the world.   How does it sound?

The Carnival of Cadiz kicks off on the night of the finals. No need to tell you how ready are the students. So are the thousands of visitors from all over Spain and the rest of the world come to the city to see the mockery, cheek and criticism of the groups performing on the stage in the most typical southern and carnival spirit.

Following the beginning of the festival, the Gran Teatro Falla “official contest” takes place. The groups are divided into four different styles; choir, chirigota (satiric and definitely funny), quartet, and the comparsas (serious counterparts to the chirigotas, less funny), who sing about politics and topics in the news from a critical and ironic perspective, and above all with delightful humor.

The Viña district and the rest of the city is transformed by carousel choruses, sometimes quiet messy but always entertaining, that sing the carnival tango comprising the most traditional music of the Carnival of Cadiz, stages that they set up on the streets for flamenco dancing and groups that are not entered in the competition but whom settle on any small street, any small corner or small square where they can entertain people as well as they can. All the streets are decorated in the spirit of the carnival, people are dressed up everywhere, enjoying these chilled-out and and crazy festive days.

To enjoy the parades, flamenco dancing, food events, firework displays, the “carnival chiquito” (small carnival) which takes place at the end of the main carnival and many more colourful acts and events, renting an apartment in Cadiz is quite an attractive option as it gives you all the freedom (and the room) you need to experience the many Carnivals of Cadiz.

To reach Cadiz, take into account that this Carnaval is full of people, so will be the transports that head there. You can take trains or buses from many cities in Spain, in Seville, Santa Justa train station is the main one. Take a moment to visit Seville as well, it is of course worth it !