Festivals in Calasparra
Discover the main festivals of Calasparra, where the sanctuary, rice fields, bull runs and traditional music groups unite devotion, landscape and popular culture.
Local festivals in Calasparra
The Virgen de la Esperanza Fair and Festivities are usually celebrated over several days from late August until 8 September. Streets, squares and cultural venues host the opening speech, music, folklore, exhibitions and events run by associations and community groups, while the Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza Sanctuary is the focus of the events dedicated to the patron.
Pilgrimage and the Rice Bullfighting Fair
On the night of 7 to 8 September, thousands of pilgrims reach the sanctuary beside the River Segura, share the evening and take part in the rosary and torchlight procession before Mass on the main feast day. From 3 to 8 September, the bull runs and novice bullfights of the Rice Bullfighting Fair bring together runners, enthusiasts, breeders, the bullfighting club, Town Council and local organisations.
Other celebrations: the Ecce-Homo pilgrimage
In May, the pilgrimage to the Ecce-Homo chapel lasts for a full day with a huertana Mass, music from the local rondalla and a rice-cooking competition. The Ecce-Homo brotherhood, Sanctuary Foundation, Rice Regulatory Council and Town Council organise this gathering, linking devotion with local food traditions.