Every village on Ibiza keeps its patron saint's day, and the pattern barely varies. There is a solemn mass and a procession, ball pages danced by the local colla, island food and wine, then a funfair and fireworks. They run for days rather than hours, and they are the one part of island life that has nothing to do with tourism. We have set them out by month so you can see what falls in your week.
The dancing is the thing to watch for. Women perform in full dress with the emprendades, the heavy gold and coral necklaces and buttons handed down through families, accompanied by castanets, flute and drum.
Winter
17 January, San Antonio. Sant Antoni Abat, with midday mass and a procession, then the blessing of the animals on the Passeig de ses Fonts: dogs, rabbits and birds queued up outside a church.
21 January, Santa Agnes. The patron's day, which runs into the almond blossom season on the Corona plateau through late January and February.
12 February, Santa Eulalia. Mass and procession, ball pages up on Puig de Missa, and a parade of decorated horse-drawn carriages.
Spring
19 March, San Jose. The patron's day and a national holiday.
23 April, Sant Jordi, which falls on Book Day, so the street fills with book stalls.
Second weekend of May, Ibiza Town. The Medieval Festival takes over Dalt Vila: stalls through the gates, costume, and the walls used as a stage.
Midsummer
23 and 24 June, island-wide and San Juan. The Nit de Sant Joan is the biggest of the lot. Bonfires are lit across the island, neighbours eat and drink around them, and people jump the flames, which is supposed to purify and keep bad luck off for the year.
16 July, the coast.Verge del Carme, patron of fishermen and sailors, when the saint's image is carried onto a boat and taken in procession across the water escorted by the local fleet. It happens at Ibiza Town, San Antonio, Es Cubells, Portinatx and on Formentera.
August, the big month
5 August, Ibiza Town. Our Lady of the Snows, the cathedral's own day.
8 August, Ibiza Town.Sant Ciriac, the island's patron saint's day, marking the Catalan conquest of 8 August 1235. There is mass at the Sant Ciriac chapel, an afternoon picnic at Puig des Molins that traditionally ends in a watermelon fight, paper lanterns carried by children, and fireworks over the port.
10 August, San Lorenzo, which has one of the strongest ball pages traditions on the island.
24 August, San Antonio.Sant Bartomeu, the town's big summer fiesta, with a midnight fireworks display over the bay.
Autumn
8 September Jesus and 21 September San Mateo, then 29 September San Miguel, 24 October San Rafael, 4 November San Carlos and 16 November Santa Gertrudis. Each is a village day of the same shape.
Seeing the dance without waiting for a fiesta
Sant Miguel holds a ball pages demonstration in the church square every Thursday from June to September, at quarter past six, lasting about three quarters of an hour. It is the most reliable way to see it, and our guide to San Miguel covers the village.
Quick answers
What is ball pages? The island's traditional dance, performed by a village colla in full dress.
When is the biggest festival? 8 August, Sant Ciriac, the island's patron saint's day.
What happens on the night of San Juan? Bonfires across the island, and jumping the flames.
Do the dates move? The saint's days do not, but the main events often shift to the nearest weekend.
Are they open to visitors? Yes, all of them, and they are free.
Where can I reliably see the dancing? San Miguel church square, Thursdays in summer.