Festes de Sant Jaume 2015 events calendar

festesdesantjaumeCouncillor Susana Labrador, the CiF's appointee on culture, took the opportunity of a press conference today to announce the events calendar that will accompany this year's Sant Jaume festivities. Starting 20 July and extending through the end of the month, 'les festes de Sant Jaume' double as the official holiday for the island of Formentera. In the words of the councillor, “the celebration combines tradition—like the dance ('la ballada') the day of patron saint Jaume on the square in front of the church—with culture, sports and music. We try to have something for all the ages and tastes out there, island residents and tourists alike”.

Cultural activities:
Expect a Sant Francesc that is all decked out for the occasion when Sant Jaume celebrations kick off. The programme begins in the plenary hall of the Council, Monday 20 July, with a book presentation of the newly released XIIIth edition of the Enciclopèdia d'Eivissa i Formentera. In the words of Councillor Labrador, “the following day holds even more in store, with a vernissage of Herreyns El bosc i La Mola, an exposition by long-time familiar face on Formentera Gilbert Herreyns”. The outdoor summer film series Cinema a la fresca will also be adding its touch to the festivities with a special projection of the documentary Violeta en Ginebra 1963—an homage to Violeta Parra—and a concert performance by her son, Angel Parra, to follow.

Official celebration, 24 July:
Among the other events announced by Labrador: “The administration's official Diada de Formentera ceremony—like every year, on 24 July. This year's event will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the municipal cinema and include the announcement of the honorary distinctions decided at a special one-off plenary session tomorrow (Wednesday)”.

Activities for children and youth:
Organisers were sure to include activities for young children and teenagers on the 2015 Festes calendar. First on the list: La Banda Guillada i el seu Ball a Cort, a street performance by Ara Toc designed especially for Formentera's youngest spectators. There will also be a special workshop to get kids geared up for the Flower infantil—a child-friendly version of the popular evening of throwback dance. “And for the first time ever,” boasted Councillor Labrador, “we have organised a hip-hop festival for the island's teenagers”.

Sports-themed activities:
The festivities for Formentera's patron saint have even got something for sports lovers: “Like the tennis and paddle tennis tournaments and synchronised swimming show put on by summer camp participants,” noted the councillor.

Concerts and musical performances (four days, 23, 24, 25 and 26):
Traditionally, the four main days of Sant Jaume are centred around music, and this year will be no different. Labrador highlighted “the crowd-pleaser Jazz a la plaça, which on Thursday 23 July will take on special proportions for the occasion” as well as “the always hotly-anticipated Formentera Flower on Friday the 24th“. Filling out the musical programme for the remainder of the weekend, the councillor announced the three concerts scheduled for Saturday—“Mishima, Ariel Rot and Los Zigarros”—, warned against anyone forgetting that evening's final showstopper (“the fireworks display”) and beamed about Sunday evening performances by Cris Juanico and Los Mambo Jambo.

Councillor Labrador wished all of Formentera “another happy round of Sant Jaume celebrations—we hope you enjoy it”. The organisational cost of the 2015 Festes de Sant Jaume was €60,000.