Mallorca Entertainment

After a lazy day on the beach, the young crowd are invariably looking for some fast-paced action and Mallorca by no means disappoints.  There are venues, aimed at entertaining the night owls, located throughout its popular resorts. For the older generation, who may have spent a day sightseeing and are in search of something a little slower, you will find ample venues for enjoying Spanish cuisine before retiring for an early night or going back to your hotel to catch a show. Whatever your evening agenda, Mallorca has something to offer everyone.

Nightlife

When the sun sets over the island, the day is far from over and native Mallorcans and visitors alike love the opportunity to throw on their glad rags and head out into the towns for some fun, be it sedate or hedonistic. Restaurants are invariably lively affairs, with many people choosing to spend the whole night in the same place, as many eating venues also have bars and offer live music to beef up the atmosphere. If a quiet meal is your thing, then you should be able to find a nice candlelit affair somewhere without too much difficulty.

If a wild night is on your agenda, then you can start at any of the countless bars in the island’s popular resort areas, with Palma or Magaluf being the places that most young singles or couples head for. Drinking at the bars might ruin your head but probably not your pocket, as alcohol prices are reasonable, while the beer is strong and spirit portions are generous. At the more popular venues and nightclubs, you’ll find drink prices somewhat elevated. Nightclubs can be found across the island, with a greater concentration in the more popular resorts. Licensing laws are fairly relaxed and it’s possible to party all night at venues in Palma and Magaluf.

Theatre and music

Mallorca is not really the place to head if you are looking for a holiday with a great deal of cultural entertainment. Traditional theatre venues are few and far between, with the Xesc Forteza Theatre in Palma being the island’s only significant venue for traditional theatrical performances. Hotels and apartment complexes at popular resorts invariably offer shows featuring some watered-down Spanish cultural displays such as flamenco dancing, but don’t expect a great deal more. Live music is perhaps your best bet of experiencing some traditional Spanish entertainment, with no end of venues showcasing local musical talents in the evenings.

Festivals

There are a number of annual summer festivals that are unique to the city, with highlights including:

• Revelta i Beneides de Sant Antoni Abat is a two-day fiesta event that sees the locals dress up in traditional carnival costumes before getting into a range of festivities that include parades, bonfires, dancing and eating (January).
• Carnival Parades, the locals kick back before the period known as Lent in the Catholic calendar arrives. Expect fancy dress balls and various forms of revelry, with Palma hosting some of the most spectacular events (February/March).
• Corpus Christi is a significant date in the Catholic calendar and sees the residents of Pollença in the north celebrating with the 'Dance of the Eagles' and a variety of other festive attractions (June).
• Conducted under the patronage of King Juan Carlos, Copa del Rey is a large and highly popular international yachting regatta (August).
• Dia de la Hispanidad is a national holiday throughout Spain and celebrates Christopher Colombus’s discovery of the New World in 1492 (October).