As every year, around May 15, Madrid once again dresses up to celebrate its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. A perfect occasion to discover the most traditional side of the capital, which organizes different activities for all tastes over six days.
San Isidro 2020 Dates
The provisional dates for the San Isidro festivities in Madrid are from May 12 to May 17, 2020 (still to be confirmed). All activities are completely free, except where otherwise indicated on the official San Isidro 2020 program website.
San Isidro Madrid 2020 Program and Highlighted Activities
With the arrival of spring and the San Isidro fair, Madrid fills with carnations, holy water, rosquillas and lemonades and, of course, chulapos and chulapas, in honor of the traditional Madrid costume. Although the official program for San Isidro Madrid 2020 has not yet been published by the City Council, the key days are as follows:
May 12. Parade by the Association of Giants and Big‑Heads of the City of Madrid from Calle de la Sal to Plaza de la Villa. Once there, the opening proclamation of the festivities will take place.
May 13. Second parade of Giants and Big‑Heads organized by the same association. The route will pass through Plaza de la Villa, Calle de la Almudena, Plaza de Oriente, Calle Bailén and Calle Mayor, all in the center of Madrid.
May 15. Madrilenian Dance Festival in Plaza Mayor and the third parade of Giants and Big‑Heads by the Federation of Traditional Madrilenian Groups, characterized by traditional folk dances and distributing carnations to passersby. The route goes from Esquina General Ricardos with Paseo 15 de Mayo to Paseo de la Ermita del Santo.
Other notable points of the program include:
The Cacharrería fair where traditional Spanish ceramics have been exhibited and sold for over 40 years in the Convent of the Comendadoras de Santiago.
The International New Roses Contest Villa de Madrid 2020: located in the Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste, which this year will reach its 64th edition to crown the “Rose of Madrid 2020.”
San Isidro 2020 Concerts
One of the highlights of the San Isidro fair in Madrid is undoubtedly its great musical offering. Thus, the city council organizes a wide variety of live concerts of different styles every year: from electronic, pop and rock to folk and world music. An ideal opportunity to enjoy great music in some of the most emblematic places in the city thanks to the different stages spread across numerous squares and parks in central Madrid, among which stand out:
Plaza Mayor
Las Vistillas
La Pradera de San Isidro
Plaza de Oriente
The Temple of Debod
El Parque del Retiro
Events in San Isidro Park in Madrid
The popular Pradera de San Isidro, located on Paseo de la Ermita del Santo, is the epicenter of the San Isidro fair. A symbolic site that every year hosts various events full of music and open‑air parties as well as an impressive fireworks show to mark the end of the festivities. You can visit four different stages: the main one, the family one, the so‑called Rincón Castizo and the Fuente del Trébol, with traditional dances, live music, shows for children and varied dances. You also can’t miss the most typical foods you’ll find in the different booths: cocido madrileño, Madrilenian lemonade (with wine, lemon, sugar and fruit), rosquillas tontas (with egg), las listas (with powdered sugar), rosquillas de Santa Clara (with white meringue) or rosquillas francesas (with almonds).
Accommodation near the San Isidro festivities
The four‑star Hotel Serrano by Silken is located in the central Salamanca neighborhood. You’ll be less than half an hour’s walk from the famous Parque del Retiro, as well as the main streets of Madrid where numerous San Isidro 2020 shows will take place. In addition, when reserving from the official website we offer you the best guaranteed price and the option of free cancellation. Don’t miss this celebration!
