Virgen del Carmen Festival

by Marbella Family
(Marbella)

The Virgen del Carmen Festival is held on July 16, however celebrations are often held before and after that day. The festival is in honor of the Virgen del Carmen - the Patron Saint of fisherman and the sea.

In most coastal towns, the main event is usually a procession that takes the image of the Virgin out to sea on a boat. The image made of wood and porcelain spends most of the year at the local church. It is placed onto a flower adorned throne and carried by a group of men led by a brass band. The Virgin is paraded through the streets towards the water, while crowds cheer and throw white carnations onto the throne.

The throne is then placed onto a boat and paraded on the bay accompanied by local fishermen on their boats decorated with flowers and lanterns. The flowers are then thrown into the sea and fireworks shoot in the air. Often times you see locals holding onto the boat, some swimming to recover the flowers and others sharing the experience from the beach.

Because the Virgen del Carmen is the Patron of the Spanish marine force you will often see many Spanish national flags and the national anthem may be played.

In Marbella the celebration also includes a boat procession between the Puerto Deportivo de Marbella to Puerto Banus. It is also the occasion for local dance schools to display their skills in flamenco performances.

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Virgin del Carmen Schedule 2015
Verbena program Virgen del Carmen in El Ingenio

Thursday, July 16

Special day dedicated exclusively to the events in honor of the Virgen del Carmen.

7:00 Rosario de la Aurora Virgen del Carmen,
Led by pastor D. Manuel Roldan Lopez.

Itinerary: Church Chapel, C / José Echegaray, C / La Cantera, C / José Echegaray C / La Concha, C / La Morena, C / Julio Romero de Torres, C / García Morato, (input and output ) Julio Romero de Torres, and C / La Iglesia return to his chapel.

CHURROS TASTING WITH CHOCOLATE
The neighborhood association Julio Romero de Torres is pleased to invite all those attending the Rosary of the Aurora to churros with chocolate. At the fairgrounds

19.00 Rociera outdoor Mass celebrated by the pastor
Manuel Roldan Lopez and sung by the pilgrims' group
Virgin Mother of Nueva Andalucía.

Then will begin the terrestrial maritime procession of the Virgin accompanied by the band of San Pedro Alcantara
VIRGEN DEL CARMEN with the following schedule.

Departure: From the new fairground booth, to the beach in the C / José Echegaray, until boarding on the beach through the eucalyptus trees to the beach bar "Guava"
Return: In the C / José Echegaray, C / La Cantera, Jose Echegaray, Julio Romero de Torres, C / La Iglesia and collected in his chapel.

23:00 Opening and lighting fairgrounds by
local authorities.

23.15 Dance in the cab of the showground with "ORCHESTRA EVENING"

Friday, July 17

12.00 Rockets announcing the start of the festival of the Virgen del Carmen.

17:30 Children's party, foam castle - cake and refreshments for all children in the Ingenio in c / La Morena.

OPEN ATTRACTIONS

22:00 Coronation and imposition of bands Queens and Children, Youth and my sympathy, as well as the Queen and King Popular Verbena 2015 Virgen del Carmen El Ingenio.

KEEP ON DANCING WITH THE
"ORCHESTRA DARE" Y "ORCHESTRA EVENING"

Saturday, 18 July

12.00 Rockets announcing a new day of the festival
12:00 Racing events at C / La Morena.
12:30 Sack races in the C / La Morena.
12:30 Darts Championship for women in the local association
13: 00 Spoon and egg races.

ATTRACTIONS OPEN

22.00 h. Dancing on the fairground booth entertained by the "ORCHESTRA Dare" and "ORCHESTRA EVENING"

22: 30h.Entrega of trophies to the winners of the DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday July 19

12.00 Rockets announcing the last day of festival.
12:05 Childrens´ games in the local association
12:45 Musical Chairs.
14:00 Lunch for seniors of Ingenio offered by the delegation of Social Welfare.

ATTRACTIONS OPEN.

21: 00 Performance by the dance studio of Julio Romero de Torres partnership led by Professor Marta Alvarez.

21:30 Dancing on the fairground booth entertained by the
"ORCHESTRA ATREVETE"

23:00 THE GREAT SPECIAL ACTION MONOLOGISTA

DANCING AND CONTINUE WITH ORCHESTRA ATREVETE

The Board congratulates and thanks all residents and visitors a year have participated in our festival and fun until next year and to be happy and the Virgin of Carmen protect us year.