Events

Carnivals

There are numerous areas, with a special mention for Badajoz and Navalmoral de la Mata, that go all out every February in the celebration of this festival of humour and satire

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Carnivals

Regional Masquerades

There are numerous areas, with a special mention for Badajoz and Navalmoral de la Mata, that go all out every February in the celebration of this festival of humour and satire

Badajoz

The Badajoz Carnival, a Festival of International Tourist Interest, is one of the most popular and participative in Spain. The school band parade, with more than 4,000 people involved, and the murgas, fill the city with colour and joy as thousands of locals and visitors alike take to the streets in costume and allow themselves to be taken by the carnival spirit.

One of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Carnival is the murgas competition at the Teatro López de Ayala. Various groups, ranging between ten and fifteen in number, battle it out in the preliminary rounds, semi-finals and the grand final, to take first prize for their songs of sarcasm, irony and humour.

The packed streets of the city centre watch the parades of children's and adults’ bands, smaller groups and choreographies.

Navalmoral de la Mata, Mérida and Villar del Pedroso

Navalmoral de la Mata (Carnaval del Campo Arañuelo "Carnavalmoral"), Mérida (Carnaval Romano), Villar del Pedroso (Carnaval de Ánimas), Alía, Plasencia, Galisteo, Jaraíz de la Vera, Montehermoso, Hornachos, Zafra and Olivenza, among others, are also landmarks on the Carnival map of Extremadura.

Las Hurdes

The Carnival of Las Hurdes was declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of Extremadura in 2018. Every year a different farmstead is chosen as the venue for the Carnival where a cast of mythical figures can be seen at one of the most unique Carnivals in the region. These striking figures include the donkey Antrueju, the goat-man Lanú, la mona, the bishop Jurdanu and the devil Diabrilluh.

The Peropalo and the Patatera

The Peropalo of Villanueva de la Vera and the Pedida de la Patatera in Malpartida de Cáceres are special celebrations that take place at this time of year. In Villanueva, an effigy called the Peropalo is sentenced amid the celebrations and the laments of the locals. On Carnival Tuesday, Malpartida de Cáceres celebrates the patatera, a traditional Extremeñan sausage prepared with potato, animal fat, pork and paprika. Both have been declared Festivals of Tourist Interest of Extremadura.