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Madrid transforms the weekend with festivities, markets and music
Madrid again has one of those weekends when it is hard to choose a plan. Local dances, outdoor concerts, markets, exhibitions, cinema, theatre and immersive proposals fill the capital’s calendar with options for families, groups of friends and those who simply want to go out for a walk and find something different.
The San Antonio de la Florida festivities mark the start of the verbena season in Parque de la Bombilla. There will be free concerts, a procession, communal lemonade and fireworks in one of the most recognisable spaces at the beginning of Madrid’s summer.
The celebration also moves beyond the centre. Moratalaz, El Escorial and Coslada are holding their own popular events these days, with live music, open activities and a neighbourhood or municipal atmosphere. It is a way to experience Madrid beyond the major tourist axes, where squares and parks once again become meeting points.
For those looking for something different, Virtual Zone: Egipto offers a virtual-reality experience in Nuevos Ministerios to travel to Ancient Egypt without leaving the city. It is one of those plans that mixes leisure, technology and curiosity, especially appealing to groups and families.
Art also gains prominence on the agenda. Museo del Prado hosts Prado. Siglo XXI, Real Academia de Bellas Artes presents the exhibition by Elena Jiménez and PHotoESPAÑA continues spreading across museums and cultural centres. Beside Palacio Real, Galería de las Colecciones Reales adds Tejiendo la vida cortesana, an exhibition devoted to historic textiles and embroidery.
El Retiro brings together several plans for closing and strolling. Feria del Libro faces its final days, while the exhibition Borges. Años de esplendor literario adds a cultural stop for those visiting the park. Very nearby, Barrio de las Letras celebrates Cultuletras with routes, recitals and family activities.
Markets complete the weekend map. Mercado de Motores, Mercado de Productores de Alcobendas, Mercado Medieval de Manzanares El Real and Feria Internacional de Cactus y Suculentas in Rosaleda del Parque del Oeste offer options for people seeking gastronomy, crafts, plants or different shopping.
Music is spread across the city with proposals such as Mad Cool DJ Talent, Concurso Internacional de Guitarra, Noches del Pradolongo in Usera, Tardes Thyssen and Soundset Festival in Condeduque.
For Madrid, the weekend once again shows that culture is not in a single place: it appears in parks, theatres, squares, museums and neighbourhoods that change pace when the heat arrives.