Madrid celebrates the feast in honour of its patron between 12th and 16th May with music, entertainment and an endless number of activities for everyone, which offers a complete cultural and leisure program, both traditional and modern at the same time.
This celebration is one of the most expected in spring, which is a tribute to the figure of Madrid, San Isidro. More than 50 concerts featuring very different musical styles to be enjoyed in five days which perfectly complements with performing arts in the Street, children’s activities…
The San Isidro prairie will be the spotlight from Monday 16th in the district of Carabanchel. The music will sound at dusk everyday. There will be dance bands, but also rock, hip-hop… At 10.00 pm, the main stage will feature dance band performances and then the dj will play great hits.
On Friday 13th May, it will take place the expected Parade at 6.00 pm. Giants and cabezudos as well as the Marching Band that leaves the Plaza de Santo Domingo, then along Plaza de Callao, Puerta del Sol and the San Miguel Market to reach Plaza de la Villa, where Santiago Auserón will read the starting speech at 8.00 pm. This day will also be the turn of both Esperanza Argüelles (8.30 pm), the authentic queen of the cabaret and Variedades Azafrán (9.30 pm); these are classic from the Madrid underground which have spent years mixing poetry, avant-garde, neo-realism and humour.
On Saturday, the protagonist will be El Langui (10.30 pm), a very popular from Carabanchel, which presents one of his ambitious works: “Hola”. There will be a new edition of the long awaited Madrid Rock Villa Awards on 15th and 16th.
San Isidro prairie will host more activities during these days from storytellers, circus and magic for children to the traditional chotis and cuplé and enjoying free paella and typical Madrid stew. On Monday 16th (12.00 am), the fireworks will bring the festivities to a close. But until that happens many other things will occur in the city. Acclaimed artists such as Santiago Auserón will give a concert with the Municipal Symphony Band of Madrid (13th 10.00 pm) and the transgressor singer-songwriter: Nacho Vegas (15th, 9.00 pm) at the Plaza Mayor.
The Vistillas gardens will be another space where the festivities will be held. It will specifically host a program of mini festivals from Cora Novoa (13th 10.30 pm) to the most traditional three names: Mari Pepa de Chamberí, Olga María Ramos and the contemporary cuplé group De la Puríssima acting on 16th (from 10.00 pm).
Fireworks over the Retiro pond, dancing to the rhythm of swing, Latin beats, tango, and tap dancing in the Reina Sofia Museum plaza as well as classic music at the Temple of Debod and Plaza de Oriente in the evening are part of a clearly multidisciplinary program. Proof of this is that the Plaza del Conde de Barajas will be filled with poetry between 14th and 16th. As is tradition during San Isidro, the Plaza de las Comendadoras will host the Feria de la Cacharrería (Ceramic Fair).
