Spanish district hoists papier-mâché donkey up church tower for traditional festival

The Cartagena district of Perin reached the joyful peak of its annual patron saint festivities over the weekend, celebrating the incredible 26th edition of its most beloved local tradition: the ascent of Lucero the donkey to the church bell tower. Hundreds of enthusiastic residents and visitors gathered in the town square to witness the quirky spectacle, filling the air with cheers, applause, and a powerful community spirit.

Jurassic Park and pasodobles: Vibrant floats and local music

The day’s festivities kicked off with a vibrant afternoon parade, featuring creatively decorated floats with themes ranging from Jurassic Park and Peri Bros to ancient Egypt. Music filled the streets thanks to the lively performances of the Cartagena 1990 Musical Group, who got the crowd dancing to the traditional local pasodoble, a fast-paced Spanish music and dance genre, “This is my town.”

Honouring the legend of the lock: Lucero the papier-mâché donkey

Following the colourful parade, attention turned to the main stage for the official reading of the “proclamation of the donkey” by the President of the Municipal Board, Pepi Méndez. Local leaders joined the festival committee and the gathering crowd to celebrate the district’s unique heritage.

The highlight of the event finally arrived when a local resident hoisted the large papier-mâché figure of Lucero the donkey up the side of the church tower, successfully reviving the historic local legend to the delight of onlookers below. The papier-mâché donkey’s journey to the top of the bell tower served as an emotional and triumphant symbol of Perin’s enduring folklore, and a gathering point for many friends, families, and visitors to the charming area.

A responsible end to the party: Fire safety amid festivities

The event was not only a show of local pride and tradition, but a show of community responsibility. To protect the surrounding countryside during a period of dry weather, organisers agreed to suspend the traditional end-of-festival fireworks display, prioritising fire safety due to the high risk of forest fires in the area during the summertime. Despite the absence of pyrotechnics, the day concluded as a resounding success, proving once again that Perin’s unique customs and tight-knit community spirit remain as strong as ever in the shining muncipality of Cartagena.