February (Two weekends)

Carnival

Ingenuity, color, and the “Rio de Janeiro of the Riverbank” in the streets of Villafranca

The month of February brings an explosion of joy and creativity to Villafranca de Córdoba. Popularly known as the “Rio de Janeiro of the Riverbank”, the Carnival of Villafranca is one of the most participatory and anticipated festivals of the year. For two weekends, the routine is broken to give way to humor, satire, and the music of the coplas (carnival songs).

The heart of the party beats in the Great Local Contest of Carnival Groups. The theater fills with anticipation to listen to chirigotas and comparsas that, with sharpness and art, review local and national current events. But the carnival does not stay on the stage; it overflows into the streets, where the Children’s Party ensures that the next generation of carnival-goers stays alive generation after generation.

🍗🎉

The Great “Alitada”

The party in Villafranca always goes hand in hand with good food. On the second Saturday of the carnival, the traditional “Gran Alitada” is celebrated. A massive event where thousands of chicken wings are fried for public tasting, creating the perfect atmosphere to gather strength and continue enjoying the songs in the street.

Piñata Sunday

If there is one day that defines the open character of this carnival, it is Piñata Sunday. It is the finishing touch to the festival. Far from the formality of the contest, on this day the groups take over the bars, restaurants, and squares of the town.

Invited by local hoteliers, the groups offer small street-level performances, singing their pasodobles and cuplés between beers and tapas. It is the perfect moment for the visitor to mingle with the locals, enjoy the ingenuity of the lyrics up close, and experience the most authentic and street-level essence of the festival.