⚽️ The Tapa Weekend: July 12
The EURO Final, the Mad Cool festival, Botanical Nights and more.
By @IanMount and @AdrianBono | July 12, 2024 | Madrid | Issue #62
🎉 Welcome to a new issue of The Tapa: Weekend Edition! An English-language newsletter about what to do this weekend in Madrid (plus memes!)
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Happy Friday, everyone!
Well, here we are. It’s like 1588 all over again.
Spain and England will clash this Sunday night for an unmissable game whose winner will be crowned the champion of the EURO 2024 tournament.
As you can imagine, that’s all people care about these days so while we’ll be offering a few other options, people just want to know where to watch “the game”.
Brace yourselves, it’s going to be an intense weekend.
Enjoy!
1. The Euros Final: Spain vs. England
Rejoice, football fans! The UEFA Euro 2024 final is set, with Spain taking on England at Berlin's historic Olympiastadion this Sunday.
Spain is seeking to win a record fourth European Championship (they won back in 1964, 2008, and 2012, and a victory this Sunday would break their tie with Germany for the most titles).
At the same time, this is only the second time England has reached the final (the last time it was back in 2021 and the team lost to Italy in a penalty shootout).
Spain enters the final as favorites (sorry, English readers) so if we happen to win, get ready for a big party on the streets of Madrid.
This final match looks like it’s going to be an epic clash that everyone will want to see, so the best thing to do is find a bar with a large TV and stake out a spot early so you’re ready to celebrate.
There will be giant public screens all over Spain, and here in Madrid the city has announced two locations: one in Plaza Colón, and another near the Puente del Rey in Madrid Río. While it’s still not confirmed, it looks like everyone will be heading over to Cibeles to celebrate if Spain wins. Get ready.
The Euros Final. July 14. 9 p.m. Check your cable provider for broadcasting options.
2. Veranos de la Villa 2024: Spending the Summer in Madrid
Just like for the last 40 years, Madrid again comes alive with a new edition of Veranos de la Villa, a cultural festival that transforms the city into a vibrant hub of activity from July 9 to August 25.
The festival includes music, theater, dance, and much more. This year's festival promises to be a memorable one as it features Japan as the guest country. So get ready for a summer filled with nightly cultural and entertainment offerings, many of which are free to the public.
Veranos de la Villa 2024 features a lineup of 270 events across eight districts of Madrid. From zarzuela to pop concerts, circus acts, and open-air cinema, this diverse range ensures that there is something for everyone, making the city's summer experience cooler than you thought (we mean that in more than one way… it’s hot out there).
Flamenco enthusiasts should be prepared for performances by notable artists such as María Terremoto, Rafa Del Calli, and Paco Soto, along with shows from the National Dance Company and the Municipal Symphony Band.
Oh, and there will also be international artists like Carla Bruni from France and performers from Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and China. Go check out the program and start taking notes and buying tickets!
Veranos en la Villa 2024. Multiple locations around Madrid. Check website for program.
3. Mad Cool 2024
Madrid is once again hosting another edition of the Mad Cool Festival this week, and this year it promises an exciting lineup of international stars and diverse genres, making it a must-attend event for music enthusiasts.
First, the bad news: you’ve already missed Dua Lipa, Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Bomba Estéreo and many others. Sorry! But this festival started on Wednesday.
But you can still make it in time to see top-tier artists such as Måneskin, The Killers, Sum 41 and Avril Lavigne.
The Mad Cool Festival is more than just concerts; it's “a comprehensive cultural experience”. (OK, sure, but it’s mostly a music festival.)
Its open-air setting not only accommodates large crowds but also creates a cool atmosphere where music, art, gastronomy, environmental awareness, and tourism intersect.
Mad Cool has become one of Europe's largest music events. It has hosted legendary acts like The Cure, Neil Young, Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Green Day, The Who, Lauryn Hill, and Foo Fighters.
Mad Cool 2024. Iberdrola Music, Madrid, Through July 13. Tickets start at €89 (1 day)
4. Mercado de las Ranas Street Market
The Mercado de las Ranas is back this Saturday so if you’re wondering where to spend your hard earned euros, this is the place. (And remember, there are no frogs involved)
This street market (which we cover regularly here) is similar to the Portobello Road or Camden Town markets in London. This Saturday, stores participating in this mercado near Plaza Santa Ana, in the Las Letras district, bring their goods outside into the street so visitors can buy their favorite book, t-shirt or grab a slice of pizza on the go.
If there’s one thing we love about Madrid (and there are actually many), it’s the street market scene, and this one doesn’t disappoint. After a bit of retail therapy, grab a table at the plaza and sip a cool caña (especially now that it’s summer).
You’re welcome.
Mercado de las Ranas. All along Calle de las Huertas in Las Letras, Madrid. July 13, Noon to 7 p.m.
5. Japan Culture Fest: Experience Japanese Culture in Madrid
If you’ve always dreamed of visiting Japan but never had the chance, here’s a great opportunity to do it from the comfort of your own city (not the same, we know, but it’s better than nothing, come on).
This weekend, Espacio Ibercaja Delicias is hosting the Japan Culture Fest, a celebration of Japanese culture blending tradition and trend. People can enjoy Japanese cuisine, amazing exhibits and workshops, and family-friendly activities that will make you feel like you just stepped into Tokyo.
The festival is divided into several zones, each offering distinct activities. The Zen Zone is a meditative and relaxing space featuring workshops on Origami, Furoshiki, and Kokedama taught by Japanese masters. If you go there, you can purchase exotic products and enjoy a relaxing Shiatsu massage (sounds good to us)
Apparently the coolest area is the Fuji Zone, where visitors enter a tent and get transported to the heart of Shibuya, with martial arts exhibitions, Bon Odori dance lessons, and Taiko drum performances.
In the evening, there will be cosplayers and Bingo-Karaoke (which we totally want to be a part of). And in case you were wondering, of course there will be a cosplay contest.
Japan Culture Fest. Espacio Ibercaja Delicias, Paseo de las Delicias 61, Madrid. July 13-14, 20-21. Check website for schedule. Tickets start at €19.
👨🏻💻 Viral Stories of the Week
⚽️ You know you’ve made it when a well-known local band dedicates a song to you—at age 16
The day after Spain beat France 2-1 to reach the Eurocopa final, the band Estopa played a concert in front of 60,000 fans in Barcelona. There, they modified a well-known song popularized by the Gypsy Kings and El Príncipe Gitano—'Obi Oba Cada Día Te Quiero Más’—to celebrate Spain’s new football star, the 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. The new lyrics? ‘Lamine... Yamal... ¡Cada día te quiero más!’
Kid, you’ve made it.
👩❤️👨 We like Zara too, but maybe not that much?
When you go with your partner to exchange a shirt and the people in the next changing room over really love their clothing. (or lack thereof)…
🔔 A Message From Our Sponsor
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Located on Calle de Moratín 7 — a few blocks away from the Prado Museum — and with over 20,000 new and used books, Secret Kingdoms has something for everyone.
Find out more at www.thesecretkingdoms.com
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