San Bartolomé Fiestas
Though best known for its huge firework display at midnight on the day of St Barts, there is much more to the fiesta – this year there are 30 events over the week.
We will start with the fireworks, and then below you will find our full day by day agenda.
Fireworks – Where To Watch
If you are on the waterfront, you will be able to see the fireworks, but for the best direct view you need to be able to see the lights of the main s’Arenal Paseo. If you can see the bungee ride you’ll be fine.
If you find yourself somewhere with no other people at 11.30pm, you are in the wrong place. All of the beaches and the Paseos will be busy.
Many of the Bars and Restaurants around the entire Bay offer excellent vantage points to watch the fireworks – they will also be very busy so advance booking a very good idea.
Villa Mercedes
- San Antonio Marina
Villa Mercedes are offering their regular and always excellent range of set and a la carte menus and will also be providing live music from DJ Buda to add to the fiesta feeling.
One of the great advantages of Villa Mercedes is that their stepped terrace affords plenty of unobstructed viewing positions, but we would still advise to book ASAP. +34971348543
The Beach
- Next to Hotel Els Pins, San Antonio Bay (main photo)
The Beach is a magical place to dine and see the firework display up close. There will be a special menu for the night of Sant Bartolomé and live music performed by Azahar López. Booking is highly recommended as tables will soon be reserved at this particularly close vantage point on the sea front.
+34971346643
Tulp Beach Cafe
- S’Arenal Promenade
The S’Arenal beachfront chic and chill ambience we love at Tulp, is a great setting and on the night of Sant Bartolomé reservations need to be made for their VIP/prime frontline seating areas. Frontline tables seating up to 8 people can be reserved for a minimum spend of 150€. VIP tables seating up to 10/11 can be reserved for a minimum spend of 250€
San Bartolomé Day by Day
The most fervently celebrated fiesta in San Antonio is upon us, and we have listed below the programme of events in English. There is something for everyone including children’s parties, Ball Pages (folk dancing), traditional fire jumping and the Great Mascletá (fireworks to welcome the Saints day). The fairground along the promenade is also back this year with stalls, rides and fairground games to keep you occupied.
Thursday 22
7.30pm – Static Hot Air Balloon Ride
Enjoy views of San An as you have never seen them before. Ses Variades, San An. Registration is obligatory at the Centre d’Informació Jove, C/ Ramón y Cajal, 19)
Friday 23
Activities on eth Passeig de ses Fonts (Fountain Square)
6pm – Artisan Market in aid of the charity RqueR
7.30pm – Horchata and Fartons Tasting
Horchata is a drink made from chufas, which are Tiger Nuts. It is milky in appearance; some say it tastes like rice pudding and contains a lot of sugar. The Horchata is accompanied by a Farton – a sweet pastry with icing sugar that was specifically created to be served with the horchata and absorb the drink.
8pm – Dance Show from the students of Are-T Dance school showcasing Flamenco, Spanish, contemporary and hip-hop dances
9pm – ‘Connection’ A new spectacular show from Eivi-Dance performing a fusion of modern dance and acrobatics. Impressive costumes, public interaction, Jazz and fun will be had by all
12pm/Midnight – Traditional Firecrackers to welcome the Sant Bartolome Patrons Day, in the Plaza d’España, Sant Antonio
Saturday 24 Sant Bartolomé
8am – Gran Mascletá (Firecrackers) Welcoming Sant Bartolome Patrons Day, Plaza d’España, Sant Antoni
8.30pm – Hot chocolate for the ‘Early Birds’, organised by the Sant Antoni Petanca Club, Plaza d’España, Sant Antoni
10.30am – Piruleto Splash Sant Bartomeu. There will be a foam party, games and lots of fun for the kids! Bring a towel, swimming goggles, swimwear and flip-flops, Plaza d’España, Sant Antoni
7.30pm – Solemn Mass followed by the procession through the streets of Sant Antoni
9.30pm – Folk dance/music behind the church with Grup Folklòric sa Brisa de Portmany (Ibiza) and Egunsenti Danza Taldea (Mundaka – Basc Country). There will be wine and Buñuelos, Plaza de detrás de la iglesia, behind the Church
10.30pm – La Movida SummerFest, Playa de s’Arenal
12/Midnight – Fireworks, over the Bay of Portmany
00.30am – La Movida SummerFest continues!
Crazy Regatta
Sunday 25th, 11am
One of the novelties of the Fiestas de San Bartolomé this year is the ‘Loca’ Regatta, a nautical competition, rudimentary and crazy in which you have to go dressed up and can only participate boats and artefacts of homemade creation without motor.
There will be prizes for the best-dressed crew, the most crazy device, the stiffer artefact, the greener artefact, the larger crew and the older crew (and their team). The first boat that crosses the goal will receive the Llaüt 2019 Prize.
To register, you must send a message to esports@santantoni.net, stating the name of the vessel, the ID of the captain, the number of crew members, a telephone number and a conctact email address, up to August 22 at 9 pm.
Big Thanks to Arenal Diving who will be cleaning the seabed after these activities.
Sunday 25
10am – San Bartolome Swim Challenge (850m) Leaving from sa Cova de ses Llegostes (near the aquarium Cap Blanc) to Caló des Moro. Inscriptions at www.elitechip.net or at Caló des Moro beach from 8.30am
11am – Crazy Regatta and Inflatable Championship. See insert for details
6.30pm – ¡Refréscate! A water party with Cachirulo and friends. There will be bouncy castles with pools, a water combat zone and the chance to get soaked, Passeig de ses Fonts, Fountain Square
9.15pm – Dance Spectacular with students of the Adriàn Pieda Dance School. Modern, ballet, flamenco, sevillanas, salsa and bachata, Passeig de ses Fonts, Fountain Square
9.30pm – Nits Amples Outdoor Cinema ‘A Star is Born’, suitable for ages 12yrs+, Plaza de detrás de la iglesia, behind the church
Tuesday 27
8pm – Children’s Day at the Sant Antoni Funfair, rides are 1€ and the Bungee 10€, from 8-11pm
Wednesday 28
7.30pm – Static Hot Air Balloon Ride
Enjoy views of San An as you have never seen them before. Ses Variades, San An. Registration is obligatory at the Centre d’Informació Jove, C/ Ramón y Cajal, 19).
Friday 30
4.30pm-6.30pm – Can Coix Municipal Pool Opening, inflatables and games for children under 6yrs (must be accompanied by an adult in the pool)
7pm-9pm – Can Coix Municipal Pool Opening, inflatables and games for children 6-14yrs
9pm – Can Coix Aqua Gym for all ages, Can Coix Municipal Pool
8.30pm – Rhythmic Gymnastics Exhibition, by the Rítmica Portmany Gymnastics Club, in the Sa Punta des Molí auditorium
Saturday 31
9.30am-11.30am – Can Coix Municipal Pool Opening, inflatables and games for children 6-14yrs
12noon-2pm – Can Coix Municipal Pool Opening, inflatables and games for children under 6yrs (must be accompanied by an adult in the pool)
10am – XIX Day of the Canoe, inscription is at Club Es Nàutic and the route is Club Nàutico to Cala Gració and back
10am – Otaku Meeting Ibiza 9.5, lots of activities for kids based around the Japanese culture. Manga, karaoke, Cosplay workshops, anime, comics and much more, Espai Jove, Sant Antoni
7pm – S’Ou Festival, a tortilla contest at a summer meeting between friends and family where the eggs will be the main actors and will not miss live music by Flor de Higuera, in S’Arenal on 31 August The teams interested in participating can register at the Kantaun bar and choose the prize for the biggest trout and the most fun or funny group.
8pm – Texas Girls! Live Rock’n’Roll performed by girls with Alter Ego, ¡Nati & Cris Duo, Eddies Bar & Diner
9pm – Rhythmic Gymnastics Exhibition, by the San Antonio Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, in the Sa Punta des Molí
San Bartolomé
According to legend, the people of Sant Antoni held worship at a Holy Cave before the church was built in Sant Antoni.
Sometime around the 17th century the Holy Cave came to be known as the Cave of St. Agnes, due to the fact that a carved wooden figure of this saint was found inside the grotto (when it was placed there is unknown, but legend has it that on the day of Sant Bartolomé a sailor who had nearly died, having prayed to the saint that if he lived he would leave the image at the first port he found, arrived in Sant Antoni and gave the image to the priest who took it up to the Holy Cave).
After being found, the icon was taken to the Sant Antoni church, but it repeatedly and unexpectedly appeared in the Cave, so the baffled people of town decided to leave it there (today it is the church of Santa Agnes de Corona).
So since then, Sant Bartolomé is celebrated in honour of Saint Agnes.
