From Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026, Monteagudo goes medieval, Los Alcázares celebrates local food and Lorca welcomes FERICAB’s Spanish horses. There are book fairs, inland-tourism ideas in Totana and a free Friday-night music event in La Unión too.
These six picks cover the Region of Murcia, with the practical times and booking notes that matter when choosing a day out.
1. Step back into medieval Monteagudo
When: Friday 16–Sunday 18 October 2026
Where: Monteagudo, Murcia municipality
Best for: Families, history and crafts
Frontera de Reinos brings nearly 100 craft and food stalls to the streets beneath Monteagudo’s hilltop fortifications, alongside falconry, traditional trades, theatre, duels, storytelling and children’s activities.
Friday’s opening ceremony starts at 20:00, with a parade, the lighting of the ceremonial flame and evening entertainment. Saturday has activities throughout the day; Sunday’s closing Moros y Cristianos parade begins at 18:00.
The free Conoce las Fortalezas del Rey Lobo guided routes explore the surroundings of Ibn Mardanis’s palace and Monteagudo Castle. On Saturday and Sunday they leave every 30 minutes, 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–19:00, without advance registration.
Leave extra time for parking and walking between the market and heritage areas, particularly on Saturday afternoon.
2. Taste the Mar Menor at Gastromar
When: Friday 16–Sunday 18 October 2026
Where: Plaza Manuel Floreal Menárguez and Plaza Real de la Feria, Los Alcázares
Best for: Food, local produce and a coastal day out
Gastromar 2026 follows Caldero Day with cookery demonstrations, tastings, children’s sessions and a gourmet market in the old town. The market opens at 19:00 on Friday and 11:30 on Saturday and Sunday. Sunday’s charity ham-cutting event starts at 11:00 in Plaza Manuel Floreal Menárguez.
Some tastings and workshops need advance registration, and several were already marked as full when checked. Activities have different prices and capacity limits: do not assume that every tasting is free or available on arrival. Use the Gastromar programme and booking links if you want a particular session.
For a flexible outing, combine the market with a walk beside the Mar Menor. Our Los Alcázares October fiestas guide puts Gastromar in the wider month’s programme.
3. See the horses and evening show at FERICAB
When: Thursday 15–Sunday 18 October 2026
Where: Huerto de la Rueda fairground, Lorca
Best for: Horses, families and a free evening show
FERICAB brings more than 100 Pura Raza Española horses and over 50 breeders to Lorca. The programme combines competition with displays that are accessible to visitors who do not normally follow equestrian sport.
The main evening attraction, Ronda a caballo: El alma de Andalucía, starts at 21:00 on Friday and Saturday, combining horsemanship, music and Andalusian tradition. Saturday’s obstacle-driving competition begins at 17:30. Sunday morning features the Copa ANCCE Alta Escuela competition, while the morphology competition runs throughout the fair.
Admission to the fairground and both evening shows is free until capacity is reached. Arrive before 21:00 for a show rather than relying on space at the last moment. You can combine a visit with our Lorca historic-centre and castle guide.
4. Browse Cartagena’s book fair
When: Wednesday 14–Sunday 18 October 2026
Where: Plaza Juan XXIII, Cartagena
Best for: Books, author events and children’s activities
The 33rd Feria del Libro brings bookshops, publishers, signings and events together under the theme Comienza una nueva historia. It is an easy addition to a city visit, with time for lunch or a museum between appearances.
Friday’s authors include Isabel San Sebastián at 18:00, Nerea Pérez de las Heras at 19:00 and Alejandro Palomas at 20:30. Saturday’s family programme includes LILIBÚ at 11:00 and children’s workshops 17:00–20:00. Sunday brings Ana Alemany at 11:00, Alma Obregón at 12:00 and Rebeca Stones at 13:00.
The published programme does not specify a general admission charge or advance booking for these appearances. Arrive early for a popular author. The official programme PDF has the full schedule in Spanish (approximately 14.4 MB).
5. Discover inland Murcia at Rueda in Totana
When: Friday 16–Sunday 18 October 2026
Where: Plaza de la Constitución, Totana
Best for: Day-trip ideas, food, crafts and regional traditions
Rueda, the regional inland-tourism fair, brings together 24 municipalities through food, crafts, culture and nature. Expect demonstrations, workshops and local traditions alongside inspiration for future trips.
Use the detailed organiser timetable rather than the municipal agenda’s generic 09:00 entries: Friday’s inauguration and food and craft stands start at 20:00; Saturday’s craft market opens at 11:00. The programme includes free experiences, with 60% of workshop places offered online and 40% reserved at the fair. Ask at the fair about remaining places; food purchases and individual activities may have their own arrangements. A dependable daily closing time was not established.
Separately, Totana’s agenda lists guided visits to La Bastida on Saturday at 10:00, and La Bastida bajo las estrellas at 18:30. These are separate outings, so confirm their booking arrangements with the tourism office before adding them to your day.
6. Dance at a free LOS40 night in La Unión
When: Friday 16 October 2026 at 22:30
Where: Plaza Joaquín Costa, La Unión
Best for: A lively Friday night
The postponed LOS40 Sessions Post-Fiestas brings DJs Ramsés López “El Faraón” and David Álvarez to La Unión. Admission is free until capacity is reached.
This outdoor event was rescheduled after rain, so check the council’s latest notices on Friday if conditions look doubtful.
Also happening in Murcia city
Murcia’s Feria del Libro continues on Paseo Alfonso X el Sabio until Sunday 18 October. We included it in our 9–12 October roundup; it remains a useful city-centre option if you missed the opening weekend.
The IBAFF independent film festival also continues until Saturday 17 October. Choose a screening only after checking its venue, time and admission arrangements.
