From 12–14 September, Villena will come alive with music, dance, and tradition as the town hosts its 34th Folklore Festival.
Festivities begin on 12 September at 21:00. The Valencian group Son d’Embat will be performing in the Patio Festero.
Over the weekend, there will be galas in the town centre and in the Las Virtudes district.
Music rooted in tradition
Son d’Embat will kick things off with a performance that blends the ancestral sounds of the Mediterranean and Iberian Peninsula with a modern twist. Their “neofolk” style connects history with today, making traditional music fresh and accessible for all audiences.
Festival highlights
On 13 September, the Chapí Theatre will host a gala at 19:30. Before the show, visiting groups will parade, marching from Plaza de Santiago to the theatre’s doors.
On 14 September, the action moves to Las Virtudes. A morning parade will take place ahead of the second gala at 11:00, followed by the festival’s closing ceremony at 13:00.
A festival with deep roots
The Folklore Festival began in the late 1980s, connected to one of Villena’s oldest and most endangered traditions, the Festival of Slavery. Its aim was simple: to preserve local music, celebrate cultural identity, and give new life to the Villena Dance Group.
More than three decades later, the festival continues to do just that, bringing folk groups from near and far.
