Les Festes del Rei en Jaume 2025 fill Santa Ponça (Calvià, Mallorca) with history, color, and community from Wednesday, August 27 to Sunday, September 7, 2025, commemorating the 796th anniversary of King Jaume I’s landing and the start of the Catalan conquest of Mallorca in 1229. The official Calvià agenda confirms dates, times, and the main location in Santa Ponça, while the town hall has released full programs in Catalan, Spanish, English, and German, detailing more than 30 events for all ages across nearly two weeks of pageantry, concerts, sport, markets, and stirring historical reenactments culminating with the Moros i Cristians parade and battles on the final weekend.
Dates and setting
- Calendar: August 27 through September 7, 2025, with opening acts the first days and the most intense historical and festive programming concentrated from August 30 onward, ending with the great market and the Moros i Cristians weekend.
- Place: Santa Ponça, municipality of Calvià, with focal points at the Creu de Santa Ponça, Caló d’en Pellicer, and Platja Gran for reenactments, and central streets for concerts and the medieval market.
- Milestone: 796 years since the desembarcament of Rei en Jaume in 1229, and the 31st edition of the modern Festes in their current format.
What’s new and confirmed for 2025
- Official program: The town hall PDF details dates, times, and sites in four languages, including the desembarcament route, collas lists, and the schedule for the first clash, parade, and final battle.
- Headliners and activities: Over 30 events including the pregó (opening proclamation) by artist Lolo Garner, a new commemorative documentary presentation, music from Alejandra Burgos, Fandango All Stars, Los Javaloyas, Saoko and Son Mezcla’o, children’s shows and outdoor cinema, sports like the Santa Ponça bay swim, beach volleyball, frontennis, Nordic walking, and the Rei en Jaume Regatta linking Calvià and Salou.
- Market: A large medieval market fills Santa Ponça from September 4–7 with artisans, gastronomy, and animations.
The heart of the festival: desembarcament and Moros i Cristians
- The desembarcament: A dramatized landing recreates Jaume I’s arrival, moving from the Caló d’en Pellicer and Creu de Santa Ponça to the main beach, with theatrical narration, banners, music, and mounted units. This staged route leads into the first skirmish and sets the tone for the weekend.
- Parade and battles: The Desfile de Moros y Cristianos brings 24 collas — 13 Christian and 11 Moorish in 2025 — with nearly 2,000 members, at least 1,300 parading, culminating in the great battle on Platja Gran. Tradition holds that the Christians prevail to honor the historical arc, but the annual duel between Jaume I and Abu Yahya keeps the crowd on edge.
- Where to watch: The first clash near the Creu de Santa Ponça, the pass at Caló d’en Pellicer, the parade route through central Santa Ponça, and the climactic beach battle are the most atmospheric viewing points; arrive early for rail-space and shade.
2025 faces and community
- Embodiments: Manuel Machado (colla Berenguer de Palou) portrays Jaume I; Aleix Ríos (colla Isamaq) portrays Abu Yahya. Their duel anchors the reenactment narrative this year.
- Collas: The collas system mobilizes local associations and families in handcrafted costumes and standards, with giants representing Jaume I and Queen Violant d’Hongria marching with the procession.
- Institutions: The mayor of Calvià emphasizes the Festes as a living tribute to the town’s spirit; the pregó by artist Lolo Garner opens the program; IB3 and local media cover milestones across the fortnight.
Music, culture, and family
- Concerts and shows: Evenings feature pop, folk, and classic groups, plus humor from Madó Pereta, Rubén García, and Javito Rivas, alongside family theater, storytelling, and open-air film.
- Giants and fire: The XXIV Trobada de Gegants (Aug 30) brings giant figures into the streets; Nit de Foc (Sept 2) ignites the night with correfoc-inspired fire runs and drumming under controlled conditions.
- Documentary: La història de les Festes, a new town hall documentary, traces three decades of the modern celebration and honors key contributors.
Sports and sea traditions
- Bay swim and beach sport: The open-water travessia in Santa Ponça bay, beach volleyball, and frontennis engage athletes and visitors.
- Nordic walking: Guided routes showcase Calvià’s coastal paths.
- Rei en Jaume Regatta: A symbolic blue-water link between Calvià and Salou that connects both shores of the 1229 campaign story.
Practical tips for visitors
- Getting there: Santa Ponça sits west of Palma; buses and taxis run regularly, but parking tightens during major events — arrive early, especially for desembarcament, parade, and battle days.
- Where to stand: Shade and sightlines near the Creu de Santa Ponça and Caló d’en Pellicer for the desembarcament; along the central route for the parade; on Platja Gran for the final battle. Hydration and sun protection are essential.
- Market strategy: Visit the medieval market in the morning for crafts and food, then return at dusk for music and cooler air.
- Family notes: Noise and pyrotechnics at Nit de Foc and the battle are intense; bring ear protection for children; respect barriers, mounted units, and instructions from stewards and police.
- Accessibility: Main viewing areas provide curb access; arrive early to secure barrier‑front positions and avoid dense crush zones.
Cultural context and respect
- Memory and myth: The Festes fuse historical memory with festive allegory. The “Ball dels Escamots,” a pre‑battle stick dance, and the giants procession add layers of folk tradition to the military pageant.
- Shared celebration: While the script favors a Christian victory to mirror 1229’s outcome, both sides are portrayed with artistry and dignity; the production is a community celebration rather than an agitational reenactment.
- Multilingual program: Official PDFs and posts are provided in Catalan, Spanish, English, and German, reflecting the cosmopolitan audience of Calvià’s coast.
Sample 3‑day plan (final weekend)
- Friday (Sept 5): Afternoon market stroll; Moorish parade in the evening; concert on the main stage.
- Saturday (Sept 6): Pregame on the promenade; the first clash near the Creu; Moros i Cristians parade at 17:30; Ball dels Escamots and great beach battle at sunset; night concert.
- Sunday (Sept 7): Market shopping; family theater; closing concert to end the Festes.
Verified details at a glance
- When: Aug 27 – Sept 7, 2025.
- Where: Santa Ponça, Calvià (Mallorca).
- Program: 30+ events; desembarcament route; first skirmish at Creu de Santa Ponça; Moorish parade; great battle on Platja Gran; medieval market Sept 4–7; concerts and sport.
- 2025 leads: Jaume I — Manuel Machado (colla Berenguer de Palou); Abu Yahya — Aleix Ríos (colla Isamaq).
- Languages: Full program PDF in Catalan, Spanish, English, and German.
Plan late August to early September for a living epic on Mallorca’s southwest shore. Walk the medieval market at dawn, claim a spot by the Creu for the desembarcament, and follow banners and drums to Platja Gran for the clash of Moros i Cristians at sunset. With music, sea, fire, and folklore woven through each day, Les Festes del Rei en Jaume 2025 offer an unforgettable way to feel Mallorca’s history beating in the streets of Santa Ponça.