Mallorca gears up for Carnival 2016
Enjoy Carnival this February with road parties and parades
Most towns on the island have their own Carnival throughout the weekend, with the biggest gatherings to be found in Palma where the main events are the Rueta (kids) and Rua (grown-ups) parades. So do as local people do, and pick your outfit for a remarkable weekend that both kids and grown-ups will enjoy.
There are a lot of occasions to decide from. For instance, Alcudia has extraordinary tapas treats from 20:30 on Saturday 6th, followed by a gathering with moving and DJ’s. The main Carnival parade is on Sunday 7th beginning in the Esplanada de l’Esglesia. For the moment, in Pollença the Carnival parade happens at 17:00 on the 6th.
Soller has it’s Ruetta parade on February 5th, while the Rua parade is on February 6th. Numerous different towns around the island praise their Carnival, including Inca, Manacor and Son Servera with a parade charted after by a party on February 6th.
Celebrations end on Tuesday with a major finale: the burial of the sardine. This odd and intense night parade includes a modest sardine and signs the end of Carnival festivities and the start of Lent. Nearby townspeople dress in customary costume, and the parade is joined by a band playing suitably grave music while the sardine is supported by pall-bearers to the town square where it is ceremonially burned. The entire thing is played satirically and everybody then appreciates platefuls of sardines.
What’s more, remember to experiment with the typical dish amid Carnival on the island, ensaimada loaded with sobrassada and pumpkin.