Sant Sebastià: Children's Festival at Sa Riera Park Brings Theater, Circus and a Dragon to Palma

Sant Sebastià Petit: Palma makes room for children's laughter

Circus, crafts and a dragon that is fed brightly painted chili peppers

Next Sunday Children's Day in Sa Riera at Sa Riera Park in Palma will fill with children's voices. Between 10:30 and 14:00 'Sant Sebastià Petit', the children's program as part of the patron saint celebration Sant Sebastià, will take place there. Those already in the old town in the morning can join the symbolic 'wake-up' action of the Drac de na Coca on the Plaça de Cort — the dragon will be fed painted chili peppers there and later will make itself noticed with a shower of sparks.

The park offers a colorful range: small circus acts, open craft workshops, participatory activities for different age groups and short plays staged especially for children. The mix is simple: little fuss, plenty of opportunity for little ones to get messy, sit on a blanket and try something new. Local parents bring jogging strollers and thermoses, grandparents look after the smallest participants, and people chat on the benches — often about the best nearby spots for ice cream.

The atmosphere is typically Mallorcan-winter: soft light, a cool breeze from the harbor, and occasionally a few pigeons settling on the fountain edges. The program is short and snappy so short attention spans aren't overwhelmed — ideal for families who want to stroll to a café on the FiraB! in Passeig del Born after a morning in the city center.

Events like this do the city good. They keep local customs alive without turning them into a museum piece. Children learn playfully what Sant Sebastià means and see traditions like the dragon not only as a spectacle but as a communal ritual. At the same time these festivities are meeting points: residents, seasonal workers, newcomers and visitors come together — the effect lasts long after the last craft table is packed away.

A practical tip: the Plaça de Cort action starts tomorrow morning; if you want to be there, arrive early to secure a spot and get the best photos. For the park on Sunday it makes sense to bring a blanket, a small snack pack and weatherproof clothing. Workshop materials are often limited — if you want to be sure, bring pens and paper for the children.

And a small, friendly request: if you color a chili pepper for the dragon, keep the materials eco-friendly. Natural or water-based paints are a good choice — they wash off hands easily and won't leave a mountain of waste later.

If you want to extend the day, you can then wander the narrow streets toward the Mercat de l'Olivar or make a detour to the cathedral. Such simple routes connect city life with family bustle and show that Palma remains lively even on quiet January days.

Sant Sebastià Petit is not a big spectacle with an entrance fee and long waits. It's more like a little city moment you can take with you: short, friendly, loud enough to make children's eyes light up. That's what Mallorca lives on — small moments that stick in everyday life.