Madrid | Issue #167
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Here Are 5 Things to Do in Madrid This Weekend
Good morning and happy Friday!
Itās a fun weekend ahead full of sheep and other fun stuff. Itās also the weekend when seasonal depression officially kicks in, as weāre turning back the clocks an hour.
At 3 a.m. this Sunday, clocks will fall back to 2 a.m. as daylight saving time officially ends.šŖ Sure, that means an extra hour in bed (or at the club, depending on your priorities), but also earlier sunsets as winter approaches.
The change applies across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, while the Canary Islands will turn their clocks back from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m. Most smartphones will update automatically, so you donāt need to worry about any of this.
Our only consolation is that the summer is just under eight months away. Hang in there!
Happy weekend!
1. š Fiesta de la Transhumancia: Madrid's fluffiest traffic jam is back
You know, itās funny. As an 80s kid, I grew up watching Roger Moore play an increasingly decrepit James Bond who still somehow managed to parkour down the Eiffel Tower.
I particularly remember watching For Your Eyes Only (came out in 1981), in which Bond travels to Spain to have sex with some lady, and it all somehow ends with a car chase scene through the streets of Madrid (filming location was Corfu, Greece btw).
Imagine my disgust (I was like, six, but also a precocious old soul) when I saw Bond had to avoidĀ a bunch of ladies herding goatsĀ and 19th-century villagers that looked more likeĀ something out ofĀ Resident Evil 4Ā thanĀ a modern European capital.
45 years later, I am wrong. At least about the goat part. Turns out itās sheep!
Welcome to the annual Transhumance Festival, an event that sounds like the demented post-humanism project of a tech billionaire trying to kill us all, but in reality just means a bunch of cute sheep traversing downtown Madrid and turning it into one giant woolly traffic jam.
Shepherds lead their flocks through the heart of the city every October, creating the surreal spectacle of thousands of sheep casually strolling past historic buildings, surprising tourists. Itās one of Madridās quirkiest traditions, and a wonderful reminder that only a few decades ago we were basically the Sand People of Tatooine.
Why sheep? The answer goes back centuries. Transhumance is the traditional practice of moving livestock between summer and winter grazing grounds, following an extensive network of ancient livestock routes known as caƱadas reales.
Some of these routes pass straight through what is now central Madrid, meaning the sheep arenāt technically invading the city. (Itās us. Weāre the pest).
The festival began in 1994 as part of a campaign to protect these ancient routes, eventually helping secure legislation recognizing them as public property.
Today, itās also a celebration of extensive livestock farming and its role in preserving biodiversity, maintaining rural landscapes, and combating climate change.
If you like hanging out with sheep, find yourself a good spot along the route, watch the woolly procession go by, and donāt let them bite you.
š What: Fiesta de la Trashumancia 2026
š Where: Downtown Madrid (check website for details)
š When: Oct. 24ā25 (main parade Sunday)
šļø Tickets: Free
2. šļø Move over Amazon, Madrid's craft fair has something better
Tired of adding things to your online cart? (I know the answer is ānoā, but humor me). If the answer is yes, I have a refreshing alternative for you!
The Autumn Craft Fair is back on Paseo de Recoletos (right next to the sheep!), bringing together some of the regionās most talented artisans for two weeks of handmade treasures, unusual finds, and things you donāt need but scream āhippie chicā on Instagram, whatever that means.
Now in its eighth autumn edition, the fair features 52 stalls showcasing everything from handmade ceramics and jewelry to leather goods, woodwork, textiles, natural cosmetics, and decorative objects.
There are even historical and fantasy games (weird, but OK) and traditional crafts you probably havenāt seen since you visited your Spanish friendās grandmother a few months ago.
The best part? Visitors can also watch artisans demonstrate their skills live, discover how everyday objects are made, and attend talks about traditional craftsmanship (which could be useful for us, considering we may need to reinvent ourselves as artisans once AI has taken all of our jobs).
So once you get tired of smelling sheep manure, just cross the street and take a stroll by the marketās stalls. Hopefully theyāll be burning some incense.
šļø What: Autumn Craft Fair (8th Edition)
š Where: Paseo de Recoletos, Madrid
š When: Through Nov. 3, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
šļø Tickets: Free admission
3. šØ DalĆ, Freud, and a whole lot of daddy issues at the Thyssen Museum
Melting clocks, bizarre creatures, and landscapes that look like one of those AI-generated images that Elon loves to share whenever he wants to convince people that Europe is collapsing. Sounds familiar?
Salvador DalĆ was never exactly known for keeping things normal (Did you know he had an adorable pet ocelot? His name was Babou, and he has his own Wikipedia page, and you donāt). But where did all his toad-licking imagery come from? According to a fascinating new exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the answer has a lot to do with a certain infamous Austrian figure. (Jesus, no. Not that guy; I was talking about Sigmund Freud!)
The exhibition explores how Freudās theories about dreams, the unconscious, and repressed desires helped shape DalĆās artistic imagination. This Spanish surrealist first encountered Freudās writings while studying in Madrid in the 1920s, and what began as intellectual curiosity soon developed into something bordering on obsession.
DalĆ even created his own artistic technique, the paranoiac-critical method, designed to transform irrational thoughts and subconscious associations into extraordinary works of art. Freudās influence would continue even as DalĆ moved toward his later, more mystical artistic period.
The exhibition unfolds across seven chronological sections, tracing the relationship between DalĆās personal life, psychological obsessions, and artistic evolution.
This oneās definitely worth a visit. And if you leave questioning your own dreams, childhood, and relationship with your parents, well, Freud would probably be delighted.
šØ What: DalĆās Freudian Universe Exhibit
š Where: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado 8, Madrid
š When: Through Jan. 24, 2027
šļø Tickets: ā¬14
4. šø Vadevermut 2026: Itās always vermouth oāclock somewhere
Yeah, thatās right. A freaking International Vermouth Fair is happening this weekend, and Iām pretty sure thatās all I need to say before you head straight to the eventās website.
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Vermouth is practically a national institution in this country. If you really want to become a part of this community, then you better be enthusiastic about sipping a glass of fortified wine before lunch.
Va de Vermut, a festival dedicated to this beloved aperitif, is bringing together vermouth lovers for a celebration of everything that makes this refined drink so irresistible.
FYI, in Madrid, itās typically served over ice with an orange slice or olive, ideally accompanied by a few tapas and before you know itā¦ BAM! Youāre drunk.
Traditionally made from wine infused with botanicals, herbs, and spices, it comes in all sorts of styles, from sweet and aromatic reds to crisp, drier whites. There will be different styles and producers, plenty of opportunities to discover new favorites, and the kind of laid-back social atmosphere that will make you less of a guiri.
Now celebrating its 10th edition, the festival has welcomed more than 65,000 visitors and featured over 270 vermouth brands across its history. Enjoy!
šø What: Madrid Va de Vermut 2026
š Where: Espacio MEEU, ChamartĆn Station, Madrid
š When: Oct. 24ā25. Saturday 11 a.m.ā11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.ā8 p.m.
šļø Tickets: ā¬11 at the door
5. š¬ Another Way Film Festival: Saving the planet, one movie at a time
Look, I think itās pretty clear by now that if AI doesnāt enslave us all to turn us into human batteries, it will be climate change (a communist hoax, for some reason) that gives us all a long, horrible death.
Anyway, the Another Way Film Festival is here to prove me wrong and show us that films about the environment can be fascinating, inspiring, and even entertaining without making you want to move into a cave and abandon civilization.
The festival focuses on cinema that explores sustainability, environmental challenges, and the people trying to make the world a better place (aka the communists, for some reason).
Rather than simply bombarding audiences with doom-and-gloom predictions (like I do), it uses documentaries and thought-provoking storytelling to spark conversations about how we live, consume, and interact with the natural world.
The festival brings filmmakers, environmental advocates, and audiences together to discuss the issues raised on screen, offering an opportunity to discover new perspectives and perhaps rethink a few everyday habits. Now in its 12th edition, the festival runs through Sunday and is worth checking out.
And if youād rather stay home to decrease your carbon footprint (commie!), part of the program is available through Filmin. Youāre welcome.
š¬ What: Another Way Film Festival 2026
š Where: Multiple venues across Madrid, plus Filmin
š When: Through Oct. 25
šļø Tickets: Check website
šŗ What to watch if you donāt want to leave the couch this weekendā¦
šŗ TV Series: Fading Grandeur (Grande de EspaƱa) | 2026
šWhere to watch: Netflix
āWhatās it about: Don Leandro is a cash-strapped Spanish marquis who's running out of money. Desperate to secure the prestigious title of Grandee of Spain (a real thing), he decides to sell his crumbling Madrid mansion to a fabulously wealthy businesswoman. Except she may be broke too.
š¤© Why you should watch: Because who doesnāt love watching ridiculously privileged people desperately trying to maintain appearances while their lives fall apart? Grande de EspaƱa is a dark comedy that promises a fun mix of class satire, deception, and old-fashioned scheming.
š¬ English Subtitles: Yes.
šš» Places to try this weekendā¦
š„ Obrar: A little slice of pastry heaven in ChamberĆ
Whatās it about? A contemporary bakery specializing in exceptional French-inspired pastries and traditional sweets. Tucked away in ChamberĆ, this contemporary pastry shop, led by chef Miguel Yeste, combines modern techniques with good old-fashioned baking, minus the unnecessary gimmicks.
Why you should go: Youāll find beautifully crafted croissants, pains au chocolat, and other buttery delights, but the real star is the mille-feuille (known in Spanish as milhojas).
Bottom line: For the mille-feuille, obvi. But donāt leave without checking out the croissants.
š Address: Calle de Galileo 9, Madrid
š· Matrice: Madrid on a plate
Whatās it about: Contemporary Madrid cuisine with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and regional wines. Matrice is bringing things back home with a contemporary take on traditional MadrileƱo cuisine, celebrating local ingredients and the kind of cooking that doesnāt need fancy gimmicks.
Why you should go: To discover what Madrid actually tastes like beyond the usual bocadillo de calamares and cocido madrileƱo.
Bottom line: A welcome reminder that sometimes the most interesting culinary discoveries are right in your own backyard.
Address: Plaza de Santo Domingo 13, Madrid
šØš»āš» Viral Videos of the Week
š½ He took the idea of tirar la cadena way too literally
š«µ RosalĆa talking about Grinder (not Grindr) and pointing to the only gay person in the room to confirm pronunciation
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I just realized that I sent it with the date wrong. š (In my defense, it was my birthday yesterday, and I was very much focused on that date).