The Parla City Council commemorates the arrival of running water to the city, especially the mobilizations of the residents to achieve it, from June 20 to 24. During these days, the Picasso Street Fairground will be the center of the Water Festival, which celebrates its 45-year history in 2025. This history, as stated by the Mayor and the Councilor of Culture in their greetings in the festival program, is a meeting point for fun, joy, entertainment, kindness, and recognition. The festivities will kick off with a flamenco singer from Parla, Moncadita, who will also offer the first concert. Other performers at the festival include local actress Lucía Bravo, youth DJs, the duo Morochos, local music bands, and dance groups from local associations. The festival will also feature parallel activities between June 14 and 22.
From June 20 to 24, a tribute to the residents who secured running water in 1979
The Water Festival of Parla celebrates its 45th anniversary. The first edition dates back to 1980, a year after running water reached the city. Until then, the water supply was insufficient for the population, leading to daily shortages.
The Water Festival honors the achievements of the community and pays tribute to the resilient population of 40,000 inhabitants. It also remembers Ursino Gallego-Nicasio, a 14-year-old resident who tragically died during one of the demonstrations, shot by a rubber bullet fired by the riot police.
From the preachers to the local bands, residents take center stage
Therefore, the programming of the Parla Water Festival, in line with its origins, features residents, associations, local bands, bullfighting clubs, entities, and the general population as protagonists.
The festival program has been curated by the Department of Culture, with the support of other municipal departments. The first protagonist is a Parla resident, Manuel Martínez Chica, known as Moncadita. Leading up to the festival, the Culture Councilor, Gema García Torres, highlights the activities planned to celebrate the Water Festival, such as the second Band Encounter and the workshops, games, and animations organized by the local associations in their neighborhood water festivals.
«The bulk of the festival will begin on Friday, June 20, with the flamenco singer Moncadita’s proclamation, followed by concerts, DJs, and cultural activities like the fast painting competition, photography contest, and sports activities,» continued the Culture Councilor.
Gema García Torres emphasizes the local bands performing on Sunday at the festival, as well as the fourteen dance associations that will take the stage on Tuesday. She also highlights the traditional and fun Great Water Party on Monday afternoon at the Fairground and the «La Mar» parade on the same morning, flooding the streets of Parla Este.
Free concert from Morochos’ tour on Saturday, June 21
In this way, the flamenco singer Moncadita, a resident of Parla and the festival’s pregonero in 2025, will also offer the kick-off concert. It will take place on Friday, June 20, at 10:00 pm, at the Fairground. The stage will feature SandrosDJ and DJ Armin Heidari after Moncadita, catering to the youth discotheques on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively. Before that, on Saturday, June 21, the duo Morochos will perform the second concert.
The brothers Juan and Ignacio have achieved great success with their new work, «De donde vengo,» placing their tour concerts in festivals like Pirata Beach in Gandía and La Movida Sound in Barbate, among many others throughout the summer, with an average ticket price of 50 euros.
At the Water Festival, residents can enjoy the music of these «good vibes twins,» with music that transcends all styles and appeals to all ages, free of charge.
Petit Pop and the «La Mar» parade for family audiences
On the same stage, local pop, rap, and rock bands will perform on Sunday, June 22, including The Killers Kids, The Guoper’s, Los Mangos, Pura Konciencia, Elementary Boyz, and the Combo from the Isaac Albéniz Municipal Music School.
For family audiences, the artistic program includes a refreshing parade that will tour Parla Este on Monday, June 23, a local non-school holiday. Additionally, the musical show Petit Pop will take place at 8:00 p.m.
The festival will conclude with performances from dance groups from various entities, including Tablao and Tumbao, Acrópolis 96, Casa de Andalucía, Baila Conmigo, Barrio 2001, Club Compass, Casa regional de Extremadura, La Granja Parla Norte, Rumiñahui, Vuelo 738 Destino Corea, Perlyna, Casa regional de Castilla-La Mancha, La Unidad Breaking, and Aula Cultural de la Mujer.
New column discovery on the Walk of Fame for Parla actress Lucía Bravo
In between, another Parla resident, actress Lucía Bravo, will be honored by unveiling the column dedicated to her on the Walk of Fame. The design will be created by Coral Leyva Blández. The tribute and unveiling ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 21, at 12:30 p.m. on the boulevard of Calle Toledo, where the Walk of Fame is located, accompanied by a concert from Track Dogs.
The program for this 45th edition of the Parla Water Festival includes cultural and sports events such as the awards ceremony for the IV photography contest «Parla, my city,» the XXV Villa de Parla Cycling Tour, the final phase of Slalom Canoeing, World Refugee Day, and other events leading up to the festival days, including the closing of the La Abuela Avutarda program, the second Band Encounter, the III Tranvía de Parla fast painting contest, and neighborhood festivals organized by associations in Parla Este, La Laguna, Fuentebella, Villa de Parla, and La Granja Parla Norte.
The Great Water Party will take place on Monday, June 23, a local holiday
One of the main events that attracts a large crowd, as it has for years, is the Great Water Party. It is an afternoon where children, teenagers, young people, adults, dogs, and anyone looking to refresh and have fun can come dressed in swimwear, diving masks, water guns, buckets, floaties, and any other water-related devices. The party will be held on Monday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fairground.
The Culture Councilor wishes everyone to enjoy the 2025 Water Festival to the fullest, but with moderation and responsibility. To facilitate this enjoyment, the Parla City Council has designed a special security and assistance device for people with different needs. Here are the main features of this device:
– Security plan: more than a hundred local police officers, with the collaboration of National Police officers and volunteers from the Civil Protection Group, will be present at the Fairground for all five days of the fair. They will establish control points and patrols in other crowded areas, especially at the Renfe Cercanías station.
– Speed, alcohol, and substance consumption controls, metal detection, and identification of suspicious individuals will be conducted at random points, including the entrances to the Fairground.
– Violet Point and Rainbow Point, for information, awareness, and prevention of sexist violence, will be open from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am on June 20, 21, and 22.
– Quiet Fairground for people, especially children with autism spectrum disorders, will be available on Saturday, June 21, and Tuesday, June 24, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
– Extended Tram schedule to facilitate access to the Fairground on June 20, 21, and 22 until 2:00 am.
– Children’s Day, with special prices for attractions on June 24.
FUENTE
