Laredo Battle of Flowers

Since 1908, on the last Friday of every August, enormous floats completely covered in dahlias, daisies and big carnations parade along Alameda Miramar in front of thousands of people. It is Laredo's great festival and has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest. The 2027 edition, the 116th, is on Friday 27 August, during the Semana Grande (Big Week). Book accommodation months ahead.

How a flower float is made

What you see go past is the end of almost a year's work. The float builders and their teams spend about ten months on each float: first they put up the structure of iron, wood and cork, and then they dress it entirely in flowers, leaving no gap showing. The flowers are not bought ready-made: they are cut in the three days before the parade and put in place the evening before, so the last night is one of non-stop work in the workshops. Laredo Tourism speaks of a million and a half flowers. The floats entered in the competition are judged by a jury, which votes for the winner.

That work in the final hours culminates in what Laredo calls the Magic Night, the eve of the parade. The tourist office does not say what it consists of each year, so it is worth checking the festival programme when it is published.

When and where to see it

The parade runs along Alameda Miramar, in the centre of Laredo, a short walk from the Old Town and the promenade of La Salvé beach. Laredo Tourism has not yet published the start time or the number of floats for 2027, or whether there are paid grandstands: the programme comes out in summer. On that Friday in August the centre fills up from early afternoon; arrive early if you want a front-row spot, especially with children, and bring water and a hat, because on the avenue you will be standing.

There was no Battle of Flowers in 2020 or 2021 because of the pandemic. If you cannot go in August, the Laredo Tourism website has virtual tours with photos and 360-degree videos of the 2012 to 2019 and 2022 to 2026 editions, a good way to see the floats up close and compare styles.

How to organise the day

Laredo's Semana Grande lasts the whole week (in 2026 it ran from 23 to 29 August), so the parade falls in the middle of the festivities, with the town at its fullest. It is the worst day to drive into the centre: park far away or come on foot. If you are staying in Santoña, the Puntal ferry drops you at El Puntal, at the other end of La Salvé, and from there you walk along the promenade; check the return timetable first, because in summer it ends at 18:00 at weekends and at 14:30 on weekdays, and a festival Friday may differ.

In the morning there is time for the beach or for climbing the streets of the Old Town to the church of Santa María. To sleep nearby, look at the Hotel El Ancla or the Hotel Juan de la Cosa, and book early: those nights fill up.