4 - 6 February 2010: Madrid International Fashion Week
Twice a year, the IFEMA centre hosts Madrid’s International Fashion Week (SIMM), the most important female fashion exhibition in the country for professionals. Models take to the catwalk, showcasing collections by up-and-coming and some more well-known designers.
The Madrid International Fashion Week represents all areas of the industry, from vanguard designers and party clothes to city and rural wear, everyday wear, sportswear, underwear, fashion for large women and teen fashion.
The quality and the competitive price of Spanish goods are widely recognised on the international market, and this is reflected in the increasing numbers of foreign exhibitors at Madrid International Fashion Week.
- Where: Parque Ferial Juan Carlos 1 (IFEMA)
- When: all day
- Cost: €30
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9 – 14 February 2010: Hurta Cordel: International Festival of Improvisation
Every year, experimental music takes centre stage at Madrid’s La Casa Encendida during Hurta Cordel, the International Festival of Improvisation. Contemporary musicians from across the world take part in the spontaneous evening performances, which sometimes include video and dance.
- Where: La Casa Encendida
- When: Daily 10am-9.45pm (closed public holidays)
- Cost: concerts 3€
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12 – 17 February 2010: Madrid Carnival
After fancy-dress competitions and parties across the capital, Madrid’s Carnival celebrations culminate on Ash Wednesday with the Entierro de La Sardina, translated as the Burial of the Sardine. This tongue-in-cheek ritual, led by costumed locals, marks the start of Lent.
The Burial of the Sardine is a Spanish tradition that ridicules the ecclesiastical tradition of burying the fat to mark the beginning of Lenten fasting. Over the years, pig fat has become a sardine.
Madrid relies on its very own cockneys, or caztizos, to jazz up the occasion with a healthy dose of the burlesque. About 60 members of the Burial of the Sardine Brotherhood, clad head-to-toe in their funeral finery lead a procession from San Antonio de Florida’s Fuente de Parajitos, preceded by a feast of soon-to-be-forbidden pleasures.
- Where: all Madrid
- When: all day
- Cost: free
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16 – 20 February 2010: Caja Madrid Flamenco Festival
Madrid’s most important flamenco festival brings together some of the best singers, dancers and musicians on the national scene. The performances take place at La Casa Encendida and the Teatro Canal de la Comunidad de Madrid.
- Where: La Casa Encendida
- When: Evenings
- Cost: La Casa Encendida (patio performances) €3 / Teatro Canal €9-€33
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17 – 21 February 2010: Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair
Anyone who is anyone in the art world attends the colossal Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair, or ARCO, at the Parque Ferial Juan Carlos 1 (IFEMA). The show features modern and contemporary art from all around the globe.
Galleries and solo artists from all over the world take part in the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair. Together, they highlight the latest emerging trends in contemporary art, ranging from painting, sculpture, installation and photography to video, graphics and new media.
The guest country for the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair 2009 is India. Various galleries and artists take part in exhibitions and discussions designed to explore India’s current art scene.
- Where: Parque Ferial Juan Carlos 1 (IFEMA)
- When: Various – please contact venue for details
- Cost: €32-€66; concessions €21-€50
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Barcelona – What’s happening in February in the city?
11 - 14 February 2010: Carnival in Barcelona
Carnival in Barcelona, timed just before the Lenten fast, is spent indulging in soon-to-be-forbidden pleasures. The city streets become a stage for lively celebrations, from tortilla-making competitions to the all-singing, all-dancing Gran Rua de Carnaval parade.
On Jueves Lardero (Fatty Thursday), a tortilla competition takes place, judged on taste, filling and presentation. Catalonians are also handy when it comes to spicy meats, especially sausages. Fuet and salchicha will have picante explosions dancing on your tongue – you’ll wish you had been born in Catalonia just for the pleasure of sampling them every day.
Carnival weekend sees revellers converge on the market places and streets to watch as the local carnival guilds and commercial establishments compete for the much acclaimed pimiento de oro – golden pepper. On Saturday afternoon the celebrations reach a climax with the Gran Rua de Carnaval, a colossal parade of adorned carriages and carnival groups and a snowfall of confetti.
All good things must come to an end and the celebrants mark the occasion appropriately with a funeral. The king of carnival has, after all, died and taken the carnival with him. A funeral cortege of his widows and entourage, all suitably dressed in black, mourn his passing.
- Where: all Barcelona
- When: all day
- Cost: free
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14 February 2010: Barcelona Half Marathon
Barcelona’s Half Marathon gets the city warmed up before the full marathon takes place in early March. Starting at the Passeig de Picasso street and ending at the Arc de Triomf, the 21,097-metre race attracts both professional and amateur runners.
- Where: centre of Barcelona
- When: 9h o’clock in the morning
- Cost: 15€ to participate
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5 November – 14 February 2010: Picasso: erotic prints
Barcelona’s Picasso Museum displays erotic prints produced by the artist between 1964 and 1970, a time when all his creations carried sexually explicit themes. The exhibition also features Japanese shunga prints that bear a strong resemblance to Picasso’s works.
- Where: Picasso Museum
- When: Tue-Sun 10am-8pm
- Cost: Permanent collection & temporary exhibition €9; temporary exhibition €5.80; Sun from 3pm & first Sun of the month free
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5 - 28 February 2010: International Percussion Festival of Catalonia
Staged at Barcelona’s L’Auditori, the International Percussion Festival of Catalonia is dedicated to the humble triangle, booming bass drum and everything in between. Performers from all over the world showcase their skills in both traditional and more unusual percussion instruments.
- Where: L’Auditori
- When: Evening concerts, starting between 8pm and 9.30pm
- Cost: 15€ per concert
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19 February - 6 June 2010: Murals exposition at the Joan Miró Foundation
All good things must come to an end and the celebrants mark the occasion appropriately with a funeral. The king of carnival has, after all, died and taken the carnival with him. A funeral cortege of his widows and entourage, all suitably dressed in black, mourn his passing.
- Where: Joan Miró Foundation
- When: Tue-Sat 10am-7pm (until 9.30pm Thu, until 8pm Jul-Sep); Sun 10am-2.30pm
- Cost: €4; concessions €3
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