A trip to the Murcia Spring Festival Parade, from overpriced drinks and shifting viewpoints to colourful floats and a hot walk back to the coach. Worth seeing once, but probably not one I’ll rush back to.
I’d seen adverts for the Murcia Spring Festival for a few years, and this time I finally decided to go and see what all the fuss was about. David’s Coach Tours were running a trip to the parade for €12, so I booked a seat and hoped it would be a fun afternoon out.
Getting There.
I was picked up at 15:15 by the Arches in Los Narejos. The coach was early, and since everyone was already waiting, we set off ahead of schedule. After the final pick‑up in Balsicas, we headed straight into Murcia.
The journey was uneventful, and we were dropped off near Sofía Hospital, right in the centre. Neil, our guide, pointed us in the direction of the parade route and told us what time to return. I recognised the area, confirmed it with him, and then walked toward the town centre.
Before the Parade.
Chairs lined both sides of the road, all set out by the organisers for people to rent for €6. I wasn’t sure which direction the parade would come from, so I followed the chairs along the route while looking for somewhere to get a drink and something to eat.
After checking a few cafés, I stopped at La Barra de Morata. I ordered a small beer and a Murciano salad. Four English ladies came in shortly after, and since it was busy, I made room for them at my table. We chatted for a while, and I ordered a small wine.
When the ladies asked for their bill, it seemed high. I asked for mine too, and sure enough, the bar had put all our food and drinks on one bill. They corrected it, but then I realised they’d charged me tourist prices, €3 for a small beer and €3.50 for a small wine. In Los Alcázares, I’d pay half that. I won’t be going back.
With time still to spare, I walked to La Santera Bar, which turned out to be much better. Friendly staff, and a pint for €3, the same price the previous bar charged me for a tiny beer. When I come back to Murcia for events, this is the bar I’ll use.
Watching the Parade.
I walked back along the route and found a place to stand. As the sun began to set, it shone directly into my eyes, so I moved a couple of times to avoid being blinded. I watched the entire parade from different viewpoints, trying to get the best angle.
The parade was good, but honestly, not as big as I expected. The photos I’d seen online made the floats look larger and covered in far more flowers. I started to wonder if the pictures I’d seen were from a different parade altogether.
Having lived in Orlando for years, I’ve been spoiled. Disney knows how to do a parade properly, and everything else tends to feel a bit underwhelming in comparison.
Heading Home.
When the parade finished, I walked back to the hospital where the coach had dropped us off. We waited a little while, then boarded and headed home. When we arrived back in Los Narejos, my friend June was waiting to give me a lift. My legs were aching by this point, and I was very grateful not to have to walk the 3 km back to my apartment.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad I went, it was worth seeing once. But now that I’ve experienced it, I probably wouldn’t go again. Still, it made for an interesting afternoon out, and at least now I can say I’ve seen the Murcia Spring Festival Parade for myself.
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