For a comprehensive list of Fiestas on Ibiza during the year, please see Calendar of Fiesta Days
The Patron Saint's Day of San Antonio, perhaps the biggest of Ibiza's Saint's Day celebrations, will soon be upon us on 17th January. Historically, Sant Antoni was regarded as the Patron Saint of Animals and, as such, part of the tradition of this particular fiesta day is for the local people to bring their pets to the church for a "blessing of the animals" by the priest.
As with most of the Patron Saint's Days celebrated in the towns and villages of Ibiza throughout the year, mass is followed by a colourful procession and traditional folk dancing (Baile Payes), live music, competitions and games, and of course, plenty of feasting and drinking.
Festivities continue for a few weeks, but doubtless one of the most popular and flamboyant celebrations will take place this Saturday, 11th January. We're talking, of course, of the eagerly-awaited Flower Power Fiesta when San Antonio is transformed into a massive street party and carnival.
People head in from all over Ibiza, dressed in their best hippy attire as the town is catapulted back in time to the love & peace vibe of the sixties and seventies. There is live music, make-shift bars, everyone dancing in the street, and even a prize for the best hippy-decorated car too.
The party starts around 21.00 hrs until very, very late, but in spite of this, it is still very much a family atmosphere, and undoubtedly one of the most colourfully diverse and joyful events of the winter.
So, if you happen to be on Ibiza this Saturday, dig out your best flowered shirt, bell-bottoms, beads and John Lennon glasses, dab on some Patchouli oil, and we'll see you there for some free love and Flower Power hippy fun!
