The parade of these papier-maché characters is one of the most popular events in the Sanfermines. Four pairs of Giants, five Cabezudos, six Kilikis and six Zaldikos animate the streets of Pamplona during the afternoon of the 6th and morning from the 7th to the 14th.

The Company was founded in 1860 and consists of nearly a hundred people, among carriers of the figures, gaiteros and txistularis accompanying the American Queen, the last giant of the parade.

 

 

 

The four pairs of Giants represent the king and queen of four parts of the world: Europe, Africa, Asia and America. The current figures were built by the craftsman Tadeo Amorena in 1860, but actually this was much previous tradition. With them, there are five Cabezudos: the Mayor, Councillor, Grandmother and a pair of Japaneses. The Company is completed with six kilikis: Ponytails, Potatoes, Warts, Beards, Vinagerface and Napoleon; and six Zaldikos, half men half horse. Whilst the Giants and Cabezudos are friendly characters, the Kilikis and the Zaldikos walk by the streets fearing the children: they hit the crowds with rubber truncheons.

Illusion and innocence
Every children from Pamplona know the Giants. That is why it is always worth following the Company just to see the faces of the little ones, witnesses of the spectacular dance of the 4 meters giants, which weigh between 62 and 64 kilos. It is traditional to leave the pacifier’s children attached to the waist of the giant and, of course, to the a picture from the hand of their favorite king or queen.

The route of the Company varies each day. At 9.30 am starts from the old bus station, where it returns after the parade about four hours later. The daily tour is available at www.sanferminpress.com., under the heading "Our proposals". The last day of the festival, Kilikis and Giants perform a dance of honor at the Plaza Consistorial, and later on they say goodbye to the youngest ones among kisses and tears in the old bus station. A shower of sweets soothes the children.

New emotions in Conde Rodezno
Since 2003, is installed in the Plaza Conde Rodezno "Menudas Fiestas", an area where children are the central characters. It is structured in different areas and everything flows around the game allowing children and adults exchange their experiences. All the games are designed to promote cooperation, small personal challenges, new emotions and experimentation with new materials. There is even a corner thought for children 0 to 3 years.

The park occupies the entire Conde Rodezno Square where children can make bread from truly mass, play with sand, develop circus skills, hear the best stories, be protagonists of an Encierro Txiki (little Encierro) or make their own buildings with pieces of rubber.

"Menudas Fiestas" remains open every morning from 11 am to 2 pm and from 6 to 9 pm in the afternoon and is always full of children eager to have a good time and to play all day.

"The Adventures of Gorgorito" gathers a large number of loyal children since 1954. Several generations have enjoyed Maese Villarejo puppets and know the song “Té, té, té . Té, chocolate y café…” ("Tea, tea, tea. Tea, chocolate and coffee… ")

The world of fantasy invades Carlos III
Dragons, whales, seahorses, giant flies. The fantasy and magic becomes the identity of new shows that the Council of Pamplona has organized from the 6th to the 13th of July, at 9pm in Carlos III Avenue.

Several local, national and international theatre companies transform this busy street of the city in the world of fantasy. We can enjoy the representations of Alea Theatre (Catalonia), Imaginario and K de Calle (both from Aragon), Zancalino (Galicia) and Compagnie Pipototal (France).

Nights of Fire
The Torico (little torus of fire) also brings together hundreds of children every night, with a small firework display on their loins. The torico, on the shoulders of a young man, leaves the Plaza de Santiago and runs near the Plaza Consistorial.

The fair area, located for the first time at the Parque de la Runa, (Rochapea neighborhood), is also highly demanded by all the children. The fairgrounds is extended along a field over 50,000 square meters, and it contains nearly 60 attractions for all preferences, and three specialized restaurants: one of them offers typical menus from Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina; another one, "World Culture Restaurant ", tries to show different cultures from all over the world, and there is also a pizzeria, which is one of the favorite ones for the youngest public.

In order to reach the area, the District of Pamplona offers a new special bus service called "special service to the fair area of Rochapea." The route runs from 11 am to 6 am, at least every 8 minutes.

In addition, there are further fair attractions for children, such as aircraft moves, games, inflatable’s and trampolines.

At the end of the day, the spectacular fireworks  light up the sky every night of the festivals, causing the admiration of children… and the not-so children.