Santiago will celebrate its traditional Ascension Festival from May 12 to 17. It is an opportunity to enjoy traditional and pop music, as well as one of the tallest Ferris wheels in Europe in Alameda Park. The fairground attractions will be open from this Friday until the 25th.

Tanxugueiras will be the first to kick off the festival on Tuesday 12th, presenting their new album in Obradoiro Square from 7 pm to 10 pm.

On Wednesday 13th, the play Espiñas Rosas by ARTías Teatro will be performed at the Main Theatre at 8 pm. That same evening, the well-established Santiago 40 Pop concert will kick off in Quintana Square at 9 pm, featuring artists such as Chiara Oliver, Ruslana, Marlon, Samuraï and Kike Varela. For those looking to keep the party going, Orquesta América de Vigo will perform in the Alameda at 10 pm.

Traditional sounds will mark Thursday 14th, with Alborada A.C. Música e Baile Tradicional de Conxo performing in the streets from Conxo to Fonseca between 10 am and 12 pm. From 12:30 pm onwards, the parade of giant-headed figures will make its way through the historic centre. Throughout the morning, from 10 am to 2 pm, visitors will also be able to attend the National Livestock Market of Amio.

That same day, Santo Agostiño Square, Toural, Cervantes, and Obradoiro Square will host folk performances from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. For those looking for a quieter plan, the Auditorio de Galicia will present Esencia at 8:30 pm, a play by Juan Echanove and Joaquín Climent. The evening concerts will feature Mondra at 9 pm in Quintana Square, followed by Orquesta Marbella at 10 pm in the Alameda.

On Friday 15th, folk music will return with Alborada A.C. Devagariño at 10 am in Castiñeiro–San Fiz, and the Coro Voces de Compostela at 6:30 pm in Toural Square, among others. Orquesta La Oca will perform at 10 pm in the Alameda.

The weekend promises a wide range of activities for the whole family. On Saturday 16th, the Galician épée championship will take place in Pontepedriña from 9 am to 7 pm, alongside the FastLife motor exhibition in Área Central from 11 am to 8 pm, and a celebration for senior citizens in Amio from 10 am to 2 pm. Folk performances will also return from 12 pm to 6:45 pm in Santo Agostiño Square, Toural, Cervantes, and Obradoiro Square.

Alba Reche’s voice will resonate in Quintana Square at 10 pm, as part of the SON Estrella Galicia series. At the same time, Orquesta Atenas will liven up the Alameda.

On Sunday 17th, the festival will close with the 25th Ascension Race on Xoán Carlos I Avenue from 9 am to 2 pm; the Galician Literature Day Concert in San Martiño Pinario Square at 12 pm; Latexo Percusión in the historic centre at 7 pm; and the show Circes e Morganas in Quintana Square at 8 pm.

The Alameda will host a Purple Point support service from the 13th to the 16th, open from 8 pm to 1 am. The park will also observe noise-free hours on May 8, 16, and 17, from 5 pm to 7 pm.