San Antonio Fireworks
The Fiesta of Sant Bartomeu 2016 (St. Bartholomew) runs from the 18th of August to the 4th of September in San Antonio Ibiza.
It involves a programme of diverse activities, ranging from live music and culture events to sports competitions and entertainment, through to acts of a more traditional nature as well as a huge firework display.
So if you are in San Antonio over these dates do not be surprised to find all sorts of activities going on around the town and ensure you stop to enjoy a few of them.
The main event though will be held on Sant Bartomeu day (24th August) where a full day of events and activities will take place.
The day will start in the Plaza de España at 0830 where the town will welcome the day of their patron, this will be followed by Hot Chocolate for all those early risers.
At 1030 their will be a foam and water party for children in Plaza de España with games and other entertainment.
Mass at the church and a procession through the streets will take place from 1930.
Activities then move to Passeig de ses Fonts where there will be demonstrations of folk dancing at 2130 followed by music and dancing from 2200 hrs.
Then its onto the more spectacular events with the Mascletada (Large firecrackers) at 2300 followed by a parade and Coroffoc / Correfuegos (a fire run – a lot like Somerset Squibbing) originally used to ward off evil spirits, although in the modern day it seems to be to help the fiesta go off with a bang, quite literally.
Correfuegos a spectacular sight as part of the Sant Bartomeu celebrations
This is one heck of a spectacle and well the picture speaks for itself. However, we do advise to keep well back and stay alert whilst watching.
The finale to the day is a huge fireworks display at midnight which lights up San Antonio Bay and can be viewed from almost anywhere along the waterfront.
A full list of events over the whole of the Sant Bartomeu Fiesta can be found here, available in Catalan and Spanish.
