Fiestas del Carmen in Chamberí

From 11 to 16 July, Chamberí Square will become the epicentre of celebrations for the traditional Fiestas del Carmen. The programme begins this Friday with an opening proclamation that will not go unnoticed: Carmen Lomana, a familiar face and regular in the neighbourhood, will officially welcome the festivities. After the rocket launch, Chamberí Square will fill with music from Nancys Rubias and the infectious rhythm of DJ El Pulpo.

Throughout the weekend and until Tuesday, there will be something for every taste: from concerts by Ella Baila Sola and La Década Prodigiosa to zarzuela recitals, live jazz and DJ sessions. Chamberí and Olavide squares will also host children’s workshops, storytelling, a foam party and even virtual-reality videogames, in an offering designed for family sharing. Food, as always, will play a leading role: bars with special menus, street tapas, tastings and popular vermouths will accompany the festive days, paying tribute to local flavour and encounters between neighbours.

The finale will come on Wednesday, 16 July, with religious events in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, including a solemn Mass at the Parish of Santa Teresa and Santa Isabel and a traditional procession through the neighbourhood streets, accompanied by music and emotion. More than a festival, Chamberí celebrates its identity. Music, food, memories and different generations sharing space, time and the desire to live in the street. This is what the Fiestas del Carmen are: authentic, lively and with their own accent.