Side of the Huerta de Murcia

When is it celebrated

It is celebrated on first Tuesday after Easter, that is, Easter Tuesday. The date changes every year and opens the week of the Murcia Spring Festival. In Murcia, Bando Day can be declared a regional public holiday in the official calendar of each year; This administrative condition must be verified in the current calendar and must not be confused with the antiquity of the tradition.

View the Bando de la Huerta 2026 programme, celebrated on 7 April.

Murcia, the Cathedral and the parade route

The orchard mass and the procession of the Virgen de la Fuensanta have as their main stage the Plaza del Cardenal Belluga and the streets of the centre. In the afternoon, the great parade usually starts from around the Infante Don Juan Manuel neighbourhood, crosses large urban axes and concludes in the eastern sector of the city. The exact itinerary and traffic restrictions change with each edition.

During the week, the peñas build barracks in squares and gardens. They are spaces open to the public in which Murcian cuisine is served, folklore performances are offered and homes, work and garden customs are recreated.

Origin and history

The municipal tourist portal places the origin of the Bando in 1851 and points out its possible initial relationship with carnival celebrations. Those first festive manifestations evolved to become a public exaltation of the huertana identity, supported by associations and clubs that preserve music, dances, gastronomy, crafts and clothing.

In 2012 the Secretary of State for Tourism granted him the title of Festival of International Tourist Interest. The recognition was published in the Official State Gazette by resolution of 16 March of that year.

Main events and traditions

• Orchard mass before the Virgin of Fuensanta and procession through the centre of Murcia.
• Evening parade with floats, folk groups, traditional scenes and distribution of typical products.
• Barracas de las peñas huertanas with gastronomy, music and ethnographic recreations.
• Children's band and floral offering, celebrated as a prelude to the main day.
• Widespread use of regional clothing and coexistence in streets, squares and gardens.

Indumentaria, música y gastronomía

Traditional costumes are an essential part of the party image. Among the men's garments are zaragüelles, vest and montera; The female costume includes a shawl, apron, shawl and embroidery. Choirs, rondallas and dance groups perform garden repertoire during the events and in the barracks.

The kitchen of the garden is shown through Murcian dishes and products, but the specific offer depends on each club and edition. The barracks are not mere food stalls: they are part of the cultural and associative work of the clubs.

Organisation and participation

The Federation of Peñas Huertanas and its peñas play a central role, in collaboration with the Murcia City Council and municipal services. Folklore groups, floats, associations, security and emergency forces, residents of the city and the districts, as well as numerous visitors, participate.

Sources

• Murcia Tourism: history, date and traditions of the Bando de la Huerta.
• BOE: declaration as a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
• Murcia City Council: 175th anniversary and events of the 2026 edition.