June 11-14 Mojácar's spectacular Moors and Christians festival

Four days of parades, musket fire, medieval markets and historical drama take over the town

Before the festival: Tuesday June 9 and Wednesday June 10

• Tuesday June 9 sees the first City of Mojácar Conference on History and Archaeology held at the Mojácar Art Centre, with morning and afternoon sessions covering everything from megalithic societies to medieval Mojácar. The day closes with a guided tour of the Mojácar La Vieja archaeological site.
• On Wednesday June 10, an official ceremony at the Multipurpose Centre in Mojácar Pueblo marks the Commemoration of City of Mojácar Day, including an institutional tribute to the mayors of the democratic era and the current Municipal Council.

Thursday June 11

• At 11am, pupils from the Bartolomé Flores school parade from the school to Plaza Nueva accompanied by a brass band.
• At 12.30pm, the students perform their opening activities in Plaza Nueva.
• The evening kicks off properly at 9pm with a lively parade through the streets and squares of the historic centre, collecting participants from each group along the way. The Moorish camps (Kabilas) and Christian camps (Cuartels) open for the night and stay open until 3am.
• The medieval market has a pre-opening from 6pm to 11pm in Plaza Nueva and Calle Glorieta.

Friday June 12

• At 11am, Moorish and Christian riflemen gather at the Mirador del Castillo for musket firing.
• At 12pm, the medieval market officially opens with an inauguration ceremony, followed by troops marching with banners through the camps to Plaza Nueva. The market runs until 3am and includes a magic show at 1pm and 9pm, XXL medieval games, workshops and a play area from 6pm, and visits from the Moorish and Christian kings in full costume from 6.30pm.
• At 7pm, riflemen gather again at La Fuente for another musket volley.
• At 8.30pm, troops regroup at the historic fountain for the highlight of the day: the re-enactment of the presentation of the city keys by Alabez, the Moorish mayor, to Garcilaso, emissary of the Catholic Monarchs.
• From 9pm, the troops march up to the town announcing the presence of hostile forces, accompanied by the municipal band and musket fire, leading into the formal opening addresses by the Moorish and Christian ambassadors at 9.30pm in Plaza Nueva. The camps open again and stay open until 5am.

Saturday June 13

• At 5pm, riflemen fire their muskets on the beach at Playa Lance Nuevo in front of the Hotel Pueblo Indalo breakwater.
• At 6.30pm, a horse parade and dressage exhibition takes place on the beach, followed by a medieval tournament in which Moorish and Christian knights compete to collect scarves placed by ladies from both sides. The troops then march along the Paseo Marítimo to the rhythm of the municipal band.
• The medieval market runs all day from 11am to 3am with archery, painting, workshops and XXL medieval games throughout the day, a magic show at 9pm and another visit from the kings in costume from 6.30pm.
• The Kabilas and Cuartels open again at 9.30pm and stay open until 5am.

Sunday June 14

• At 11.30am, the riflemen gather one last time at Playa de las Ventanicas for a final musket firing.
• The grand finale arrives at 6.30pm with the spectacular closing parade through Mojácar Pueblo, with troops in full gala costume accompanied by multiple bands and floats. The route starts at Plaza del Arbollón, passes through Plaza Nueva and continues along Avenida Encamp and Avenida Andalucía before finishing at La Fuente roundabout.
• The medieval market closes out the weekend with a final magic show at 9pm before wrapping up at 10pm.