Úbeda is Culture and Leisure

On January 5 in the afternoon, the Great Cavalcade of the Magi is celebrated for the enjoyment of adults and children. The Three Wise Men arrive in the city of Úbeda to distribute gifts and enthusiasm to everyone.

The night of January 16 to 17, the festival of San Antón, patron saint of animals, is celebrated.
In various parts of the city, bonfires are organized, usually made of olive branches, and bar counters are usually installed in its shelter, where you can taste, among other food, the famous ochios with black pudding. It is also very traditional to have churros with chocolate, with all the churrerías in the city being open until late at night.

Carnival, a festival with historical roots, has been promoted with special force during the last decade, with the emergence of multiple Carnival Groups, which with their performances in entertainment venues and in different public spaces, sweeten Ubet’s winter. The peak moment of these acts is represented by the Carnival Final, in which around thirty groups participate.

The traditional Race Between Cultures is part of the sports cycle organized together with the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain. It is a test of 10.6 km of urban circuit through the historic center of Úbeda.

In these Artistic Days the city lives different activities of great importance around the technique of watercolor: International Exhibition of Watercolorists, Art Market or the prestigious international Outdoor Painting Contest “Úbeda World Heritage Site”.

Holy Week is one of the most important events of the year in the town of Úbeda. Holy Week of Úbeda has been declared of Tourist Interest in Andalusia. Images, taken out in processions from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, offer a tour of the most exalted religious imagery in the province of Jaén.

Among the most emotional moments of the many in Holy Week in Úbeda, two stand out. The exit at dawn on Good Friday of Jesús Nazareno, and the rapid ascent of the Virgen de la Soledad (Virgin of Solitude) carried on the shoulders of penitents up the steep hill Cuesta de la Merced. Not to be missed is the General Procession, which takes place on the night of Good Friday, an impressive chronological representation of the Passion in which twenty thrones and nearly 3,000 penitents participate. It is especially recommended to see it in the Plaza Vázquez de Molina.

Coinciding with the first weekend next to May 3, the festival of the May Crosses, in various squares of Úbeda Crosses are erected, generally floral, next to which bars are usually installed, in which to taste the typical and varied local tapas.

It is a proposal developed in the Plaza de Andalucía, with a marked cultural character. This event has activities that bring literature closer to citizens, round tables or conferences among other activities, which will serve to bring reading closer to the general public.

The Feast of Corpus Christi celebrated in the month of June is deeply rooted; the city turns to the decoration of the facades and streets through which the custody processions, with altars and decorated awnings. The entire historic center is adorned with altars and floral carpets, to make way for the Corpus Christi procession with the Custodia in front, one of the most outstanding works of goldsmithing in the national territory, accompanied by the boys and girls who have recently received the First Communion.

The Úbeda Festival may be one of the most special festivals on the national and international scene. The essential basis for its success lies in its program rich in diversity, with complementary style, and always based on excellence.
The quality of the programming, the presence of great artists, great orchestras, soloists or top international chamber groups are the main attraction of the festival.

In June-July the Renaissance Festivals are celebrated, festivals that commemorate the declaration of Úbeda and Baeza as World Heritage Cities on July 3, 2003.
For a few days the city is transformed to recover its history. It is decked out to be the stage for a series of activities that will make you relive the splendor of Úbeda in the 16th century: Theater and dance, exhibitions, concerts and period dinners…

Initiative that includes a rich and varied programming, aimed at young people, in which board games, miniatures, role-playing manga, archery, video game console tournaments, etc. stand out. in the incomparable setting of the Hospital de Santiago.

In mid-September the “Sabina around here” Days take place, with concerts, exhibitions and activities about this universal Ubetense, the city’s Favorite Son.
The programming of these Conferences tries to honor every year the illustrious singer, poet and musician from Ubet Joaquín Sabina. It includes an original contest for young people, who cover the artist’s compositions and usually have his presence. All performances and activities take place in the cultural center of the Church of San Lorenzo.

Weeks prior to the San Miguel Fair, Ubetans warm up their engines at the long-awaited Tapas Fair. As we have been getting used to for a few years now, it has become a meeting point for everyone who likes to have a good time, accompanied by family and friends, enjoying the best tapas in some of the city’s bars.
There are several establishments that participate in this annual event, offering the best of themselves, innovating in each of the appetizers they prepare for the occasion.

This fair, which is held the third week of September, has become one of the most important in the sector at a national level.

The Autumn Theater Show is characterized by the theatrical performances of the best national, traditional and contemporary companies, who bring first-rate works to our city.

Since 1977, the Discalced Carmelite community has organized every year in Úbeda a series of conferences and liturgical and artistic events dedicated to Saint John of the Cross.
These days are officially inaugurated on a Saturday, with a brief presentation of the content of the Week and, as a central act, with a musical performance or other scenic arts around the work and poetry of the Saint. From the following Monday to Friday, a cycle of conferences takes place, where great specialists in San Juan de la Cruz, both national and international, take part. The Sanjuanista Week ends with a Eucharist in the church of San Miguel.

This is a cultural and sports activity in the field of ornithology that is held at the Hospital de Santiago. The great variety and the different ranges presented mean that the public is not left indifferent when appreciating the beauty of these birds.

The Úbeda and Baeza Early Music Festival (FeMAUB) was born in 1997 with the purpose of adding a musical encounter to the artistic and cultural attractions of both cities, jointly declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.
The FeMAUB is a thematic event, which in each edition commemorates a specific aspect of historical music from multiple perspectives, including not only cycles of concerts (organ, educational, parades, social, etc.), but also exhibitions, informative conferences, courses and high-level conferences. Since its origins, it has been committed to the recovery and dissemination of the Iberian and Latin American musical heritage, making known through premiere concerts and first world recordings that vast and, sometimes, forgotten part of the Hispanic culture.

Charity carol contest organized annually by the Alma Madre Choir for a charitable purpose, designed to help people who need it most on Christmas Eve. Held at the Ideal Cinema Theater, different formations collaborate to interpret songs according to these festivities.