SAN ISIDRO STARTER PACK

The good weather is here and, although we are witnessing the last shot of the cold and rain in the capital, it is already starting to smell like the end of the school year: San Isidro is here. For those of you who are not in Madrid, let me explain.

San Isidro is Madrid's fair. Long story short. These are festivities that were born in honour of the patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. During these traditional festivities, you can enjoy a very wide cultural programme and, what interests me the most, the concerts. For those who are new (and not so new) to this place, these are festivities that are celebrated throughout the city. Days full of events, concerts, lots of music, laughter and, especially, a very cheap way to enjoy the outdoors. In addition to the totally free performances and concerts, as well as places to buy drinks and food, there are also attractions and, most importantly, in most of them you can take your drinks and food with you (win win). Although it is officially from May 11 to 15, the programme begins this Saturday 3 with –no more and no less– DJ Nano.

Pradera de San Isidro

As your most trusted rookie expert, I will summarize some tips for surviving (or not being left behind) these festivities and which I have been perfecting over the years with my friend and permanent signing in San Isidro, Elena (love you):

First of all, buy food and drink. Although the second seems dispensable, it will save you on more than one occasion from unnecessary dizziness or from going out to look for food in a sea full of people (a lot of people) and from which it is a pointless odyssey to try to get out.

Secondly: a fridge. Yes. You will think I am crazy but a fridge made of lined fabric and that can be folded into a tote bag will be your greatest ally. You will be the most loved person at the party and the one in charge of making sure all the drinks you bring are cool. Then when you finish after 500 hours, you fold it up and take it home empty. Another simpler option is to carry plastic bags with ice in it as a cooler and throw them away when you're done, but it's less effective, especially if you're there all day. For concerts that aren't in La Pradera, most of them have pretty heavy secutiry on bringing in drinks, or you have to open them. Keep this in mind in case you buy an arsenal and are forced to throw them away or not go in (or become a gentleman who will end your lives right then and there).

Jacket. Yes, the sun shines on you and you're hot, you'll even get sunburned, but at night it cools down. Although Madrid in summer is a real hell, we're not in summer yet and as the saying goes: until May 40th...

And where do I meet with my friends, Dew? That's a very good question. Trained to find people in large crowds, both at the Malaga fair and San Isidro, we have a foolproof system (and one that requires several years of work): ALWAYS stand in the same place. For example, in Malaga we always stand next to the bottle tree, to the right of the stage. Anyone who knows us, and even if we haven't even spoken, knows that if they pass by there, they'll find us there. Same in San Isidro. We also have our fixed place and if you know I'm going and you look for me there, you'll find me there.

You might think this is a bit absurd, but you're wrong. Due to the amount of people in these types of places, the networks are overwhelmed and the mobile phone simply doesn't work. Messages don't get through, they don't arrive... To avoid not knowing where to go, agree on a place beforehand or go to 'that fixed place' is key to not getting lost (or missing anything).

Dew at San Isidro 2023

EXTRA BALL: It's a great bonus to know someone who lives near the Pradera, either for the pre-party (if you do it), to bring things from there or, when you finish, to take the cooler home and pick it up another day.

As for the programme, I recommend and highlight (based on my totally subjective criteria) the performances of DJ Nano, DJ Michenlo, Mago de Oz, Gloosito, Gazzi, Ralphie Choo, Nancys Rubias, Russian Red or Azúcar Moreno, among many others.

As if that weren't enough, there will also be a fireworks show at the beginning and end, as well as many other cultural activities that may be of interest to you (and that you can see on the San Isidro website).

Will we see you there?