Once again, the Holi Colours festival will be celebrated in San Pedro for the third time and for the second year as a fluorescent event. Initially booked to take place a couple of weeks ago, San Pedro town hall decided to move the date to 23 June – the night of San Juan – because of it being so popular (read about San Juan in our blog: Noche de San Juan in San Pedro Alcántara).
Collaboration with the town hall means that the event will now be free of charge (instead of 16€ per person) and is aimed at all ages, so great fun for everyone. Approximately 3,000 people participated last year, with visitors coming from all up and down the coast, and this year, together with the Noche San Juan celebrations, it will surely be an event not to be missed!
The concept differs a little from the traditional, as originally from India and Nepal, this festival is celebrated by Hindu devotees and is usually held to welcome the monsoon season.
The first Holi Colours event took place in Tarifa in September 2013 and received a fantastic reception, so the Mediterranean version soon extended to places like Madrid, Barcelona and other countries as well.
It is generally a party affair, attracting lots of tourists and locals to celebrate life with an explosion of colour, as participants take from home or buy at the event, small pouches of coloured powder made with corn flour in red, blue, green, yellow, orange and purple.
DJs playing dance music in the background and a set ‘Colour Time!’ is announced where everybody simultaneously throws the brightly coloured powder into the air, causing not only a spectacle of colour as the crowds turn into a colourful rainbow but also the enjoyment of taking part in a vibrant atmosphere as everyone joins in at the same time. A truly fun and original experience.
We recommend that you wear something white and old, take sunglasses and if you suffer from allergies a facemask (although no chemicals are used in the powder)…and party!