BINISSALEM VERMAR 2009 / BINISSALEM GRAPE HARVEST FIESTA & FAIR 2009 (Selected events)

The Binissalem Vermar celebrates the status that the town of Binissalem has in the Mallorcan grape-growing and wine industry, some of the island's most important bodegas being found there. While grapes and wine are the themes, this is also a fiesta that features much of what one finds at other fiestas, such as fire runs. The following lists just a few events that may be of interest. Binissalem, for those who may not know, is just south of Inca.

Saturday, 12 September
20:30: Art exhibitions open and there follows a jazz performance by the Contemporary Club Ensemble (vibes/percussion; clarinet; guitar; marimba/percussion; bass; drums).


Sunday, 13 September (Festa de Sant A Binigual)
18:30: Jewel run.

19:30: Mass.

20:00: Ice-cream and ensaimada for all followed by folk dance with Herbes Dolçes.


Friday, 18 September
18:00: Welcome to the "Vermada". From the Ferrer bodega to the centre of the town

20:30: Prayer for the fiestas.


Saturday, 19 September
12:00: The great grape battle with accompaniment from pipers.

14:00: Lunch and party. Price: four euros (tickets have to be purchased by the 17th from the town hall). Performances by De Paso and Baix N'Nicotina.


Sunday, 20 September
10:30: At the church, pipers and the giants of Binissalem.

11:00: Mass.

17:30: The sixth grand grape-treading competition. Place: Plaça de l'Església.

20:30: Performance by the municipal music band. Place: Parc de la Rectoria.


Monday, 21 September
17:30: Children's party. Place: Plaça de l'Església, followed by a mediaeval show of horses.

21:30: Competition for "glosadors" (folk and poetry, unaccompanied singing).


Wednesday, 23 September
21:30: Inter-cultural cuisine - samples at the covered parking area in Escola Graduada.


Thursday, 24 September
21:00: Fideus de Vermar (fideus being the noodles that go to make the different type of paella, i.e. not with rice). Tickets have to be obtained in advance from the terrace of Ca Ses Monges de la Caritat from 17:00 to 20:00 on 22/23 September.


Friday, 25 September
08:00: Market. Place: the covered parking area in Escola Graduada.

20:30: Open-air supper for all people of Binissalem and their friends. Tickets have to be obtained in advance (as with the fideus event above).

01:30: Fire run and then batucada (drum samba). Place: Plaça de l'Església.


Saturday, 26 September
17:30: Parade of floats.

23:00: Grand party with performances by Orquestrina d'Algaida, Nudo Zurdo and Son Dos.


Sunday, 27 September (the main day of Vermar)
10:15: Reception of local officials accompanied by pipers and giants.

10:30: Solemn mass.

11:30: Grape competition / Dance by the Binissalem giants with the pipers.

16.30: Wine for all and cocas for sale.

19:00: Folk dance with performance by Quart Creixent i Es Revetllers. Place: Plaça de l'Església.

BINISSALEM VERMAR 2008 / BINISSALEM GRAPE HARVEST FIESTA & FAIR 2008 (Selected events)

This has been going since 12 September, but now starts to build up. The Binissalem Vermar celebrates the status that the town of Binissalem has in the Mallorcan grape-growing and wine industry, some of the island's most important bodegas being found there. While grapes and wine are the themes, this is also a fiesta that features much of what one finds at other fiestas, such as fire-runs and of course the almost obligatory night party. The following lists just a few events that may be of interest. Binissalem, for those who may not know, is just south of Inca.

Saturday, 20 September:
12:00: The great grape battle. Basically, a whole bunch of people get down and dirty in a gigantic grape bath. Accompaniment from local bag-pipe players.

14:00: Lunch and party. Price: 5 euros. Place: Plaça de l'Església. Performances by Quin Vici, Val 9 and DJ Foguer.

20:30: Binissalem Techno DJs and Friends. Price: 8 euros. Place: Sports centre.

21:00: Concert with groups Fruto de la Manga and La Vereda at the Bar de Cas Cabrit.

Sunday, 21 September:
18:00: The fifth grape-treading competition. Place: Plaça de l'Església.

Wednesday, 24 September:
21:30: Show of inter-cultural cuisine. Place: Passeig des Born.

Friday, 26 September:
01:30 (Saturday morning): Fire-runs with the demons of Binissalem. Place: Plaça de l'Església.

Saturday. 27 September:
22:30: Grand party with performances by Qrquestra 8 Vents, Vetusta Morla and Vés-hi Tu.

Sunday: 28 September (THE MAIN DAY OF THE VERMAR FAIR):
From 10:00.

10:15: Giants and bag-pipe players accompany local worthies. Place: Town hall.

10:30: Solemn mass.

11:30: Grape competition / Dance by the Binissalem giants with bag-pipe accompaniment.

17:00: Indiana, a visual voyage of the history of traditional Mallorca dress from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Music from Sarau Alcudienc.

19:00: Popular dance with groups Sarau Alcudienc and S'Estol des Gerricó. Place: Plaça de l'Església.

EXCURSION TO THE VERMAR
There will be an excursion to the Vermar on the main day of the fair (Sunday, 28 September), courtesy of No Frills Excursions. The price for this, to include return transport, guide and insurance, is 20 euros for adults and 10 euros for children.

No Frills contact - (0034) 971 897 066
www.nofrills-excursions.com

Bookings for No Frills can be made at their office in Puerto Alcúdia on the above number or at numerous other sales points including most hotels. Online booking is not available at present.