Madrid! Virgen de la Paloma Festival 2025 – La Latina in Full Bloom
- Charles Jordan
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Madrid! Virgen de la Paloma Festival 2025 – Castizo Spirit!
The trilogy ends with a bang. From August 14–17, Madrid’s most iconic summer celebration, the Fiestas de la Virgen de la Paloma, takes over La Latina with music, tradition, and castizo pride. It’s the grand finale of the city’s August verbenas, and the most beloved of them all.
What does Castizo mean in Madrid?
(This paragraph was in our July 29th article about the San Cayetano Festival.)
In Madrid, castizo goes beyond ancestry, it’s a cultural badge of authenticity. The term evokes the traditional spirit and identity of the city, especially its working-class roots from the 17th century onward. Something or someone described as castizo is considered genuinely Madrileño, steeped in local customs, language, and style.
ICYMI: Here are links to the other two articles we recently published about the August Festivals in Madrid: San Cayetano (Aug 5-8) and San Lorenzo (Aug 9-12).
What Makes La Paloma Unique?
It's the emotional centerpiece of Madrid’s summer trilogy. Think chulapos and chulapas dancing across cobbled streets, the city's firefighters honoring the Virgin, and the hum of tradition blending with modern beats. If you're only going to one fiesta this August—this is the one.
Why You Should Go
La Paloma brings:
Family-friendly fun in every plaza
Castizo fashion and dance-offs
Top-notch concerts and street sketches
Religious rituals full of local pride
When and Where?
August 14–17, 2025
Jardines de las Vistillas
Plaza de la Paja
Plaza del Humilladero
Iglesia de La Paloma
Daytime Highlights
Mantón de Manila styling & chotis competitions
Puppet shows, acoustic street sets, and face painting
Mus & Parchís tournaments and botijo/porrón contests
Floral offerings and the descent of the Virgin’s painting
Religious procession through La Latina’s historic streets
Nighttime Vibes
Concerts start at In the late evening and close with DJ sets:
Antonio Carmona, Pol 3.14, Café Quijano, Claudio Muñiz y su Banda, Invaders, Melena Gracia & Locomia, Metropop, and Regreso de la Década Prodigiosa, Zona Rock Band
Sketches by Chulería Castiza and surprise flamenco sets
DJs: Alberto Hache, Pakito, Pulpo, Tama, spinning through the night
Cultural Core – Friday, August 15
12:30 PM – Floral offering @ Colegio La Salle-La Paloma
1:00 PM – Mass @ Iglesia de La Paloma
2:15 PM – Firefighters lower the painting of the Virgin
8:00 PM – Procession through La Latina
How Do I Get There?
Metro: La Latina, Puerta de Toledo
Cercanías: Pirámides (C1, C10)
BiciMAD: Vistillas · Plaza de la Paja · Cava Baja stations
🎉 Virgen de la Paloma Festivities: Full Calendar of Events
(Source: https://diario.madrid.es/blog/notas-de-prensa/centro-se-vuelca-con-las-fiestas-en-honor-a-san-cayetano-san-lorenzo-y-la-virgen-de-la-paloma/, downloaded July 29, 2025)
🗓️ THURSDAY, AUGUST 14
Plaza de la Paja: • 7:30 PM – Children's activities including fan painting and puppets • 8:00 PM – Mantones de Manila contest • 8:30 PM – Chotis contest • 9:00 PM – Castiza performance • 10:00 PM – Invaders • 12:15 AM – DJ Tama
Jardines de las Vistillas: • 7:00 PM – Children's activities including "Music Time" and a puppet show • 8:30 PM – Show: Chulería Castiza by Manuel de Segura • 10:00 PM – DJ Alberto Hache • 11:00 PM – Antonio Carmona, 12:30 AM – DJ Alberto Hache
🗓️ FRIDAY, AUGUST 15
Colegio La Salle-La Paloma: • 12:30 PM – Floral Offering • Iglesia de La Paloma • 1:00 PM – Solemn Mass • 2:15 PM – Descent of Virgin’s painting • 8:00 PM – Procession of the Virgen de la Paloma
Plaza de la Paja: • 1:00 PM – Entremeses castizos (comedic sketches) • 7:30 PM – Family presentation: La Alfombra Mágica (The Magic Carpet) • 8:30 PM – DJ Pakito • 10:30 PM – Metropop • 12:15 AM – DJ Pakito
Jardines de las Vistillas: 7:30 PM – Family presentation: Muñeco de Nieve (Snowman) • 8:00 PM – DJ Alberto Hache • 11:00 PM – Pol 3.14 • 12:15 AM – DJ Alberto Hache
🗓️ SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
Plaza de la Paja: • 7:00 PM – Children's chulapo contest • 7:30 PM – Family presentation: Espectáculo Musical (Musical Show) • 10:30 PM – Malena Gracia & Locomía • 8:00 PM – Fan contest • 8:30 PM – Pasodoble contest • 9:00 PM – Presentation of awards • 9:30 PM – Castiza performance: Agrupación Castiza El Orgullo de Madrid (cultural/theatrical performance group) • 12:15 AM – DJ Tama
Jardines de las Vistillas: • 7:30 PM – Family presentation: Musical del Mar (Musical of the Sea) • 8:30 PM – Castiza presentation: Olga María Ramos • 10:00 PM – Claudio Muñiz y su Banda • 12:00 AM – Café Quijano • 1:30 AM – DJ Alberto Hache
🗓️ SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
Plaza de la Paja: • 7:00 PM – Family performance: Potters • 7:30 PM – Closing contests, botijo & porrón challenges • 8:30 PM – Castiza performances: Agrupación Castiza El Orgullo de Madrid & Agrupación de Madrileños y Amigos de los Castizos (cultural/theatrical performance groups) • 10:00 PM – Regreso de la Década Prodigiosa • 12:15 AM – DJ Alberto Hache
Jardines de las Vistillas: • 7:00 PM – Family activity: Encantada (Enchanted) • 8:00 PM – Castiza performance: Viva la Paloma (Long Live the Dove), Mari Pepa de Chamberí • 9:30 PM – Orquestina Madriz • 11:30 PM – DJ Pulpo
Closing Thoughts
La Paloma is the grand finale of Madrid’s August festivals. Whether you’re witnessing chulapos twirling to a chotis in Plaza de la Paja or pausing for quiet reverence at the Iglesia, this fiesta balances joy and tradition like no other. It’s where castizo spirit shines brightest, and community pride takes center stage.
Tell us what moment you're most looking forward to—will it be the descent of the Virgin’s painting or a nighttime DJ set in the Vistillas? Drop a comment below and let others know how you plan to celebrate!
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