Sports, Culture, and Tradition at the Rei En Jaume Festivities in Calvià

The main program of the Rei En Jaume festivities in Calvià, traditional and well-established, will take place from August 28 to September 8 in Santa Ponça, commemorating the 795th anniversary of King Jaume’s landing.

In terms of sports, the program includes a return to the Malgrats Islands, the Balearic Cup of kayaking and paddle surfing, a popular beach volleyball tournament, fronton, Nordic walking, and the Santa Ponça Bay swimming crossing. This year, a slingshot tournament will also be held for the first time. Additionally, the program offers children’s activities, such as a workshop for creating big-headed figures and concerts specifically for kids.

On Wednesday the 28th, the exhibition of the selected works of painting and photography for the Rei En Jaume 2024 awards will be inaugurated in the Exhibition Hall of Calvià Town Hall, although the award ceremony will not take place until October.

Regarding traditional events, around 1,400 people from 11 groups of Moors and 11 groups of Christians are expected to participate. The aspects of historical reenactment are advised by Bernat Carrot, a microbiologist passionate about the Middle Ages, who helps with the designs of, for example, the kings' clothing, swords, and shields to faithfully reproduce the history and battle between Moors and Christians. To design these costumes, Bernat Carrot relies on the "Llibre dels Feits" and other medieval history bibliographies, ensuring the most authentic recreation possible. In previous years, the kings’ costumes were rented, but now they are owned by the town council. King Jaume’s costume weighs around 10 kilograms due to the metal pieces it includes. The Rei En Jaume festivities not only celebrate a historical feat that took place nearly eight centuries ago but also strive to respectfully reproduce some details of the clothing so that the newly chosen kings can wear them with the dignity they deserve.

On Thursday, August 29, a commemorative event for the 795th anniversary of King Jaume’s landing at the Santa Ponça Cross is scheduled. Other activities include the gathering of Calvià giants in Pinada Square, a popular dance with Música Nostra, the handing over of banners, the presentation of the festival kings, a medieval market, the Saracen parade, the landing and battle of Moorish and Christian troops, and a solemn mass.

As every year, music and fireworks will conclude the celebrations that bring together the municipality of Calvià. For entertainment, there will be live music concerts and DJs in Pinada Square, a fire night with the Dimonis of Calvià, a night of humor, and beach cinema featuring "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."