Experiences with the Feast of Saint James?

[MichaelC]

I'm looking at a schedule for 2016 that will put me in Santiago near the Feast of St. James. I'm wondering what other pilgrims' experiences have been with that weekend, and whether you all would recommend trying to time your arrival a few days before the festival (I've seen great advice on not arriving on the Feast Day itself).

I can envision the festival being an amazing and cathartic end to a camino, but I can also imagine that the sudden crowds can make it feel impersonal and overwhelming.

Side: the same calendar would put me near Burgos on El Día de las Peñas, which looks interesting.

 

[Kanga]

Yes, yes, yes! I and daughter walked into Santiago a couple of days before the Feast Day in a Holy Year. We had walked from SJPDP. The Mass and celebrations in Obradeiro Square in the evening of St James Day were unforgettable. One of the highlights of my life. Yes, it was crowded, but fun.

 

[SYates]

I just answered a similar post here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/santiago-on-july-25th.30920/#post-266646 so please forgive me if I just copy and paste it in here also:

" The main points to consider is that a lot of pilgrims will want to arrive for that date in Santiago (plus a lot of tourists/other visitors will be also there). The main celebrations are on the 25th but some take place on the days before, after the 25th things tend to calm down a bit. Here is what I would do:

Reserve a bed in Santiago very, very early on, as soon as you know when you will arrive. This will reduce the stress of arrival and of finding a place to sleep greatly.
Spend the last night in Monte de Gozo, normally no problems of finding a bed there! And you can start early the next day, giving you plenty of time to arrive both physically and mentally after such a long walk.

@JohnnieWalker and others might be able to tell you if any masses are 'ticket only' on the 25th and the exact time schedule of the celebrations."

Buen Camino! SY

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola
The city is alive with street entertainment and free indoor and outdoor concerts for many days prior to 25 July. For 9 nights prior to the feast there is a sung solemn novena in the Cathedral. For many the biggest day is the eve of the feast when on the evening of 24 July there is sung vespers in a packed cathedral. At the end of this everyone starts to congregate in the Plaza Obradoiro. There is a long wait and eventually the police close the square when it is full. At around 11.30pm a magnificent sound and light display is projected on to the cathedral which culminates in a wonderful fireworks display to herald the feast.
Here is a video of last year's celebrations:

The following morning the main Mass of the Feast is held. It is first come first served. Tickets are only issued when the King or the Prime Minister is present. In the Plaza Obradoiro military bands play whilst representative of the armed services and senior politicians assemble to be inspected by the King or his representative. Whilst this is going the liturgical procession leaves by the side door of the cathedral into the Plaza Platerias - bishops, canons, representatives of religious orders and the archbishop move in solemn procession round the cathedral into the Plaza Obradoiro where church and state meet in the centre and form one procession which mounts the staircase into the cathedral - and the mass begins.

Then we party.