The Mahón fiestas date back to 1890, when the Town Hall decided to combine the religious ceremonies that honoured the city’s with the horse parades that used to be celebrated around the San Juan fiestas in June and had stopped in the X1X century.
The fiestas, which honour the Virgen de Gràcia, take place on the 7th and 8th September. ,
The ringing of church bells starts the fiestas off at 16h on the 7th, and then all the riders gather together and parade through the streets until they reach the chapel of Gracia where they stop to pray. Then they make their way to the square in front of the Town Hall, where they hold the jaleo which is truly spectacular and thoroughly enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.The festivities go un until the early hours.
There is another jaleo on the morning of the 8th, followed by horse-racing down the long and straight street Cos de Gracia in the afternoon. It is really exciting and vibrant.
It has become fashionable over the last few years to ask a famous celebrity to open the fiestas officially alongside the mayoress of the city from the balcony of the Town Hall overlooking the square. This happens on the night of the 6th and then everyone sings a song together which is dedicated to the city.