Día de la Hispanidad & Other October Events in Madrid

Enforex

October (2009) Events in Madrid

FESTIVALS

  • Día de la Hispanidad Spanish National Day
    • When? October 12
    • Where? Plaza de Colón
    • What? This national holiday celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas under the Spanish crown. Nowadays, it's a celebration of Spain complete with a big military parade around Plaza de Colón (Columbus Plaza).
  • Experimentaclub
    • When? October 2 - 4
    • Where? Casa Encendida (Ronda Valencia 2)
    • What? Alternative music festival featuring all genres.
  • Optica Festival
    • When? October 15 - 17
    • Where? Plaza de Colón
    • What? Contemporary visual art festival involving numerous artists and private galleries.
  • ESTAMPA
    • When? October 28 - November 1
    • Where? IFEMA
    • What? Madrid's annual print and contemporary art fair, where exhibitors show works by famous artists (Picasso, Miró, etc.) as well as by up-and-comers and visitors can peruse and purchase all sorts of artwork at affordable prices.
  • LesGaiCineMad
    • When? October 29 - November 8
    • Where? Various cinemas throughout Madrid.
    • What? Madrid's annual gay and lesbian film festival. 80 Spanish and international films are screened with the underlining concept being the acceptance of homo-, bi- and transsexuality.

EXHIBITIONS & CULTURAL EVENTS

  • Richard Roberts & Architects
    • When? July 19 - October 18
    • Where? CaixaForum Madrid (Paseo del Prado 36)
    • What? An exhibition of works by Richard Roberts and other renowned architects, featuring scale models, photographs, drawing plans and more.
  • Fantin - Latour
    • When? September 29 - January 10 (2010)
    • Where? Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (Paseo del Prado 8)
    • What? An exhibition of 70 works by French painter Henri Fantin Latour.
  • Darío Urzay. Bifurcaciones.
    • When? September 23 - November 22
    • Where? Museo Colecciones ICO (Zorrilla 3)
    • What? An exhibition of works by Basque artist Darío Urzay, who uses photography and painting to reflect upon our perception of reality and the effect that new audiovisual media has upon it.
  • David Maljkovic
    • When? September 9 - January 18 (2010)
    • Where? Museo Reina Sofía (Santa Isabel 52)
    • What? An exhibition of videos, drawings and objects used to reflect upon abandoned buildings and obsolete architecture,all while underlining the importance of remembering the past.
  • Maíno
    • When? October 20 - January 17
    • Where? El Prado (Ruiz de Alarcón 23)
    • What? An exhibition of works by the very original yet largely unkonwn 16th- and 17- century Spanish painter Juan Bautista Maíno. The exhibition consists of approximately 35 paintings by Maíno, along with those of his Spanish and Italian contemporaries.
  • El esplendor de Alejandría
    • When? September 18 - October 25
    • Where? Museo del Traje (Juan De Herrera 2)
    • What? An exhibition featuring historical reproductions of clothing worn in ancient Alexandria by Oscar winning costume designer Gabriella Pesuccifor the upcoming Alejandro Amenabar movie Ágora.
  • Mantos de la Eternidad
    • When? September 24 - February 28 (2010)
    • Where? Museo de América (Av. de los Reyes Católicos 6)
    • What? An exhibition of elaborate mummycloths and other objects used in burial rituals of ancient Peru. Discovered in 1925, the exhibition's 82 pieces date back to between 100 B.C. and 200 A.D.
  • Camuflajes
    • When? September 11 - November 1
    • Where? Casa Encendida (Ronda Valencia 2)
    • What? An exhibition featuring 33 artists whose works center around the concepts and uses of camouflage and hiding one's identity.
  • China. Retrato de un país. China. Portrait of a Country.
    • When? June 26 - October 31
    • Where? Casa Asia (Carrera de San Jerónimo 15)
    • What? An exhibition of photographs that chronicle China's history from 1949 to 2008.

THEATRE & DANCE

  • Lulú
    • When? September 28 - October 16
    • Where? Teatro Real (Plaza Isabel II)
    • What? Opera by composer Alban Berg following various scenes from the life of Lulu, the main character. The opera is based on the tragedies Erdgeist (Earth Spirit) and Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box) by Frank Wedekind.
  • Rhythm of the Dance
    • When? October 1 - 11
    • Where? Coliseum (Gran Vía 78)
    • What? Irish music and dance performance.
  • Spamalot
    • When? August 29 - October 18
    • Where? Teatro Lope de Vega (Gran Vía 57)
    • What? Popular musical comedy that parodies the tale of King Arthur and his knights. Based loosely on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail".
  • Grease
    • When? September 30 - November 1
    • Where? Nuevo Teatro Alcala (Jorge Juan 62)
    • What? Production of the popular musical Grease, a love story set in a 1950's high school.
  • La Casa de Bernarda Alba The House of Bernarda Alba
    • When? September 10 - October 25
    • Where? Matadero Madrid (Paseo de la Chopera)
    • What? Stage production of dramatist Federico García Lorca's final play, about a mother - Bernarda Alba - who maintains complete control over her daughters, her mother and her housekeeper in a small Spanish town.
  • Sueño de una noche de verano A Midsummer Night's Dream
    • When? September 23 - October 25
    • Where? Teatros del Canal (C/ Cea Bermudez 1)
    • What? Opera by composer Alban Berg following various scenes from the life of Lulu, the main character. The opera is based loosely on the tragedies Erdgeist (Earth Spirit) and Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box) by Frank Wedekind.

CONCERTS & MUSIC

  • The Fray
    • When? October 6
    • Where? La Riviera (Paseo Bajo de la Virgen)
    • What? Concert by American alternative rock band The Fray.
      www.thefray.net
  • Diana Krall
    • When? October 13
    • Where? Palacio de los Congresos (Castellana 99)
    • What? Concert by Canadian singer and pianist Diana Krall.
      www.dianakrall.com
  • Dream Theater
    • When? October 23
    • Where? La Cubierta (Maestro 4, Leganés)
    • What? Concert by American progressive metal band Dream Theater.
      www.dreamtheater.net
  • James Morrison
    • When? October 25
    • Where? La Riviera (Paseo Bajo de la Virgen)
    • What? Concert by British pop singer James Morrison.
      www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com
  • El Canto del Loco
    • When? October 29
    • Where? Palacio de Deportes (Jorge Juan 99)
    • What? Concert by Spanish band El Canto del Loco.
      www.elcantodelloco.com
  • Backstreet Boys
    • When? October 31
    • Where? Palacio Vistalegre (Utebo 1)
    • What? Concert by American boy band Backstreet Boys.
      www.backstreetboys.com

SPORTS

  • Bullfights
    • When? Sundays, March through October
    • Where? Plaza de Toros Las Ventas (C/ Alcalá 237)
    • What? Traditional bullfights held each Sunday, as well as on special holidays, such as on August 15.

* Want to see past months' events? Take a look! Madrid Events

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