The Ascension Festival will launch an intensive cultural agenda in Santiago from May 12 to 17, although the fairground attractions will be open from this Friday until May 25. Traditional music, the now well-established Los 40 Principales concert, the Ferris wheel in Alameda Park, and the traditional pulpo á feira food stalls will be among the main highlights.

The Galician neofolk group Tanxugueiras will open the music program on Tuesday 12th, presenting their new album in Obradoiro Square from 7 pm to 10 pm.

On Wednesday 13th, the Main Theatre will host the play Espiñas Rosas by ARTías Teatro from 8 pm onwards. That same evening, at 9 pm in Quintana Square, the public will be able to attend the LOS40 Santiago POP concert free of charge until full capacity is reached. The line-up includes artists such as Chiara Oliver, Ruslana, Marlon, Samuraï and Kike Varela. The night will conclude with a performance by Orquesta América de Vigo in the Alameda at 10 pm.

Thursday 14th will focus on traditional sounds. Alborada A.C. Música e Baile Tradicional de Conxo will fill the streets from Conxo to Fonseca with music from 10 am to 12 pm. At midday, the municipal band and the Colexiata do Sar group will take over from Quintana Square. At 12:30 pm, the traditional parade of giant-headed figures will make its way through the old town. Folk performances will also take place from 6 pm to 7:30 pm in several locations, including Santo Agostiño Square, Toural, Cervantes and Obradoiro.

Other activities that day include the National Livestock Market of Amio from 10 am to 2:30 pm, and the play Esencia, starring Juan Echanove and Joaquín Climent, at the Auditorio de Galicia at 8:30 pm. Mondra will perform at 9 pm in Quintana Square, followed by Orquesta Marbella at 10 pm in the Alameda.

On Friday 15th, folk music will once again take centre stage, ranging from the morning performance by Alborada A.C. Devagariño at 10 am in Castiñeiro–San Fiz to the Coro Voces de Compostela concert at 6:30 pm in Toural Square, and Orquesta La Oca at 10 pm in the Alameda.

The weekend will also feature a packed schedule. On Saturday 16th, there will be the Galician épée championship in Pontepedriña from 9 am to 7 pm, the FastLife motor exhibition in Área Central from 11 am to 8 pm, a celebration for senior citizens in Amio from 10 am to 2 pm, and more folk performances in the same venues as Thursday, this time running from 12 pm to 6:45 pm.

The most anticipated event on Saturday night will begin at 10 pm in Quintana Square with a performance by Alba Reche as part of the SON Estrella Galicia series. At the same time, Orquesta Atenas will perform in the Alameda.

The festival will come to a close on Sunday 17th with the 25th Ascension Race along Xoán Carlos I Avenue from 9 am to 2 pm, and the Concert for Galician Literature Day in San Martiño Pinario Square at 12 pm. Once again, there will be traditional alboradas, as well as a performance by Latexo Percusión in the historic centre at 7 pm and the show Circes e Morganas in Quintana Square at 8 pm.

Alongside these cultural events, the Alameda will host its popular fairground attractions. The area will also feature a Purple Point safe space from May 13 to 16, open from 8 pm to 1 am. One of the measures introduced to make the festival more inclusive is the establishment of noise-free hours at the park on May 8, 16 and 17, from 5 pm to 7 pm.