Cartagena bewitched with international magic festival

Cartagena recently became the centre of attention – and magic – on the Costa Calida with the celebration of the 4th edition of the Cartagena es Magia International Festival. For three days, the city shone with performances from national and international magicians, brain-teasing escape room challenges, and widespread celebrations that embraced the magic of the city in one blowout festival.

A major international event that dazzled the city

Organised by the Cartagena City Council, the Cartagena es Magia International Festival is one of the most original springtime cultural events on the Costa, attracting hundreds of people to some of the city’s most iconic spaces including the El Batel Auditorium, the Town Hall Plaza, the Parque de los Juncos or the Ramón Alonso Luzzy Cultural Centre.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the event was the free magic performances and exhibitions in the streets of the city. Family shows and spectacular specialists took the spotlight in this year’s edition, including Antoñico Francés, who performed a family show in Parque de los Juncos; Héctor Sansegundo, who took to the stage in Plaza del Icue; and Kachinocheve, winner of the National Prize for Comedy Magic, who performed in the lobby of the Ramón Alonso Luzzy Cultural Centre.

This year, the Cartagena es Magia International Festival also included a programme designed exclusively for adult audiences, including a performance by Magician Javi Martínez at the Mister Witt Café with a show of magic, mentalism and improvisation.

Raúl Alegría faces the Jaws of Death

Raúl Alegría, known as the “New Houdini,” starred in a particularly thrilling escape challenge, “The Jaws of Death.” This high-tension show, inspired by the escape challenges of the iconic magician Houdini, featured the illusionist freeing himself from a gigantic steel trap before it closed on him. The challenge became one of the most talked-about events of the entire festival.

The event culminated with the Champions Gala, held at the El Batel Auditorium. During the event, some of the most prestigious and talented performers on the international magic scene graced the stage, including Raúl Alegría and two-time Spanish champion, Lucía Rivera, a Cuban illusionist known for her participation in America’s Got Talent.

Cartagena bewitched by this fantastical festival

The combination of large-format shows, close-up magic, street performances, and new offerings including escapism and magic for adults has allowed the event to reach very diverse audiences, enchanting both residents and visitors of Cartagena. The festival has once more consolidated Cartagena as one of the leading international hubs on the Costa Calida, and reinforced the event as a dazzling reason to visit this vibrant city in the springtime.