You need only know (and fear) one word during the Moors and Christians (June 15th - 17th) in Mojácar this year: trabucazo. It is the mind-numbing explosion of muskets fired by the trabuqueros at certain times (well, mostly always) during the three day festival. This year, there are seven 'kabilas', clubs, participating, with four Moorish groups and three Christian ones. In broad strokes, the moros are socialist and the cristianos are populares in case you were wondering which one to join. The seven kabilas will all have their fortresses located in the village, possibly bringing truth to Terry Pritchard's story of the underground moors, if there's not enough room and the mayoress' famous car-park hasn't been completed...
It's a wonderful fiesta and well worth making a trip to the pueblo to participate, dance, drink and eat. Live music in each and every kabila, our friends the trabuqueros letting off powerful charges every two seconds, fantastic costumes, lots of fun. On Sunday 17th, from 7.00pm, the colourful procession from the different groups, plus innumerable musicians, files slowly through the main square and down the hill to the Fuente. Bring sun-screen and cameras.