Each October, Zaragoza turns into a citywide celebration for Fiestas del Pilar, blending centuries-old traditions with modern music and street culture. By day, there’s folklore, flowers and family events, and after dark, the big stages wake up and the buzz spreads across plazas and the riverfront.
Fiestas del Pilar: Zaragoza's festival explained
Fiestas del Pilar honours Zaragoza’s patron, the Virgin Mary, venerated as Our Lady of the Pillar. The devotion centres on a centuries‑old pillar in the Basílica del Pilar. The feast falls on 12th October, tying the city’s celebrations to Spain’s National Day and drawing pilgrims alongside locals paying homage.
What began as a religious feast centred on masses and processions has grown into a broad celebration. Mid‑20th‑century additions like the Ofrenda de Flores (floral offering) and the Ofrenda de Frutos (harvest gifts) became the defining rituals, while later decades layered on folk showcases, street culture and large concert stages.
Fiestas del Pilar 2025 dates and main sites
The 2025 fiestas officially run from Saturday 4th to Monday 13th October, with the national holiday of Día del Pilar falling on Sunday 12th October. This year includes an extra day and a long weekend, so expect heavier crowds around the holiday itself. Pre-festival events begin on Thursday, 2nd October, while the official kick-off is the city’s opening pregón on Saturday, 4th October.
Key sites and hubs
- Plaza del Pilar and the Basílica del Pilar: the heart of ceremonies, floral tributes and major daytime gatherings.
- Espacio Zity (Valdespartera fairgrounds): big-ticket concerts and late-night shows, the contemporary counterpart to the traditional core.
- Ebro riverfront and the Expo area: open-air stages and large-format evening events.
- Central squares and streets (including craft and gastronomy zones around the centre): pop-up markets, regional food, folk performances.
- Parque del Agua and Parque Grande: family-friendly activities and daytime culture.
Key events during Fiestas del Pilar 2025
This is the civic spine of the fiestas: the opening speech, parades, flower offerings, folklore, street theatre and fireworks strung across the centre and the parks. Most activities are free and family‑friendly, while bullfights, circus shows, and some fairground experiences are ticketed.
Date | Time & event | Venue/location |
|---|---|---|
4th October | 6:30 pm — ‘Zaragoza es el león’ parade | City centre route |
9 pm — Opening address (pregón) from the City Hall balcony | Ayuntamiento, Plaza del Pilar | |
10 pm — Fireworks | Plaza del Pilar | |
5th October | 8 am — Morning bull event (vaquillas) | Plaza de Toros de la Misericordia |
9:30 am — Cruz Roja Pilar 2025 charity run | Parque Grande | |
10 am — Official Aragonese Jota competition | Sala Mozart, Auditorio de Zaragoza | |
11 am — ‘Un domingo en el museo: Recuerdos en el corazón’ family activity | Caesaraugusta Forum Museum | |
6th October | 11 am — Aragonese crafts and food fair | Plaza de los Sitios |
11 am — Regional folklore showcase | Fuente de la Hispanidad, Plaza del Pilar | |
5:30 pm — Río y Juego children’s play zone | Expo riverfront (Frente Fluvial) | |
11 pm — Rondas joteras: roving Jota serenades | Various central streets | |
7th October | 11 am — Aragonese crafts and food fair | Plaza de los Sitios |
12 pm — ‘El Pilar es una Fiesta’ seniors’ event | Sala Multiusos, Auditorio | |
4 pm — León Garganchón giant lion attraction | Paseo Vicente Cazcarra (Las Fuentes) | |
5:30 pm — Río y Juego opens | Expo riverfront | |
5:30 pm — Novice bullfight with picadors | Plaza de Toros de la Misericordia | |
11 pm — Light and sound show | Recinto Ferial | |
8th October | 10 am — Río y Juego session for special education/TEA groups | Expo riverfront |
11 am — Regional folklore showcase | Fuente de la Hispanidad, Plaza del Pilar | |
4 pm — León Garganchón | Plaza Mayor (San José) | |
4 pm — Tragachicos giant slide | Parque Grande, Puente de los Cantautores | |
5:30 pm — Bullfight | Plaza de Toros de la Misericordia | |
8:15 pm — Water, light and sound show | Parque Grande | |
9th October | 12 pm — ‘El Carro de la Alegría’ family show | Museo del Fuego y de los Bomberos |
4 pm — León Garganchón | Plaza El Cantor de Jazz, Valdespartera | |
4 pm — Tragachicos giant slide | La Almozara | |
6 pm — Gigantes y Cabezudos parade | Starts at CP Montecanal | |
10th October | 11 am — León Garganchón | Plaza Paraíso |
11 am — Puppet theatre fair | Parque Grande, Kiosko de la Música area | |
12 pm — ‘Planeta Jurásico’ interactive dinosaur exhibit (every 30 mins to 2 pm) | Carpa Blanca, Valdespartera | |
4 pm — International Circus Festival of Zaragoza | Recinto Ferial de Valdespartera | |
11th October | 10 am — Zaragoza Aquarium, Children’s Day (€6, ages 3–12) | Acuario de Zaragoza |
11 am — León Garganchón | Plaza Albada, La Jota | |
4 pm — León Garganchón | Plaza Albada, La Jota | |
4 pm — International Circus Festival of Zaragoza | Recinto Ferial de Valdespartera | |
9 pm — Fireworks | Parque Pignatelli | |
12th October | 6:30 am — Floral offering starts | Route: Plaza Aragón to Plaza del Pilar |
12 pm — Solemn pontifical mass and procession | Basílica del Pilar / Plaza del Pilar | |
5 pm — Winners’ performance of the Official Aragonese Jota competition | Plaza del Pilar, Escenario Ambar Fuente de Goya | |
6:30 pm — Oktoberfest | Parque de Atracciones de Zaragoza | |
13th October | 10:30 am — Fruit offering parade | City centre route to City Hall |
5:30 pm — Bullfight on horseback | Plaza de Toros de la Misericordia | |
10:30 pm — Final fireworks and traca | Parque de Macanaz |
Fiestas del Pilar 2025 concert programme
The programme includes large open‑air concerts spread across Zaragoza’s plazas and parks. Most city‑run events in the centre are free, while the big headliners in venues such as Espacio Zity are ticketed.
Date | Time & event | Venue/location |
|---|---|---|
Friday 3rd October | 9 pm — DJ Padre Guilherme | Plaza del Pilar |
10 pm — Rels B | Espacio Zity | |
11:59 pm — Bresh | Espacio Zity | |
Saturday 4th October | 9:30 pm — Pablo López | Plaza del Pilar |
10 pm — Melendi | Espacio Zity | |
11:45 pm — Alma Bakala | Espacio Zity | |
Sunday 5th October | 9 pm — Manuel Carrasco | Espacio Zity |
9:30 pm — Álvaro Mayo + Leire Martínez | Plaza del Pilar | |
10 pm — Kraken | Jardín de Invierno (Parque Grande) | |
11 pm — Sesión de noche | Espacio Zity | |
Monday 6th October | 9 pm — Pilar Folk (Mercedes Peón) | Plaza del Pilar |
10:30 pm — Calle Mambo | Jardín de Invierno (Parque Grande) | |
11 pm — Sesión de noche | Espacio Zity | |
11 pm — Conciertos ZGZ Emergente | Las Food Trucks Festival | |
Tuesday 7th October | 9 pm — LARA91K | Jardín de Invierno (Parque Grande) |
9 pm — ORA + AMICI MUSICAE | Plaza del Pilar | |
9:30 pm — María Terremoto | Estación del Norte | |
10 pm — Sharif | Jardín de Invierno (Parque Grande) | |
Wednesday 8th October | 9 pm — DJ Nano: 30 años en la música | Plaza del Pilar |
9:30 pm — Duki | Espacio Zity | |
10 pm — Azero | Las Food Trucks Festival | |
10 pm — Califato 3/4 | Jardín de Invierno (Parque Grande) | |
Thursday 9th October | 9:30 pm — Morad | Espacio Zity |
9:30 pm — Cadena 100 presenta a Marlon | Plaza del Pilar | |
10 pm — La Oreja Band | Las Food Trucks Festival | |
11:30 pm — Perro Negro (sesión de noche) | Espacio Zity | |
Friday 10th October | 8:30 pm — King África | Estación del Norte |
9:30 pm — Cadena SER: “Los 40 Pilar Pop” | Plaza del Pilar (Escenario Ambar Fuente de Goya) | |
10 pm — JC Reyes | Espacio Zity | |
1 am — Juan Magán | Espacio Zity | |
Saturday 11th October | 5:30 pm — Izal y Miss Caffeina | Espacio Zity |
9 pm — Loquillo | Pabellón Príncipe Felipe | |
9:30 pm — Los 40 Independance – Antigua Máxima | Plaza del Pilar | |
11 pm — Hits 2000 | Espacio Zity | |
11:45 pm — Fiesta Coliseum (tras el concierto principal) | Espacio Zity | |
Sunday 12th October | 8 pm — Leiva | Pabellón Príncipe Felipe |
10 pm — Blackworks | Espacio Zity | |
Monday 13th October | 1 am — Concierto de TAKO | Espacio Zity |
Visiting Zaragoza as a springboard to everyday life
After a festival taster, many visitors start thinking about living in Zaragoza long-term. Families gravitate to homes near Parque Grande and Parque del Agua, and the AVE to Madrid and Barcelona makes weekend travel simple. Thanks to its walkability, it’s no surprise that retiring in Zaragoza is also on the rise with expats. The city boasts a compact centre, easy tram hops, leafy paths along the Ebro, and that dry cierzo breeze that keeps skies clear. Plus, costs sit below Spain’s bigger hubs, and the rhythm is lively without feeling frantic.
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