Now one of the most emblematic and popular places on the island of Ibiza, the Las Dalias street market will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. And it will do with a party that aims to return to the origins of the market, recalling those years of the island’s hippie spirit through the music of the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Behind this new festivity is, obviously, Juan Marí, more popularly known as Juanito de Las Dalias. Son of the founder of the street market, he hands over the leading role to Alessandro, the general manager of this new event which will be held every Monday from the first of June until the last of September.
The idea was born last year when, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of what Las Dalias is - which goes beyond the street market. Given its great reception, «we decided that this party, Peace&Music, would be present all year round», explains Juanito.
Alessandro assures that the popularity and importance of Ibiza was born precisely with this musical style of the 60s, 70s and 80s. «We want to bring that spirit to the present in a serious and faithful way to the time, with a decoration, costumes and shows of people with a very high artistic training adapted to the era».
«Many of the pioneers of the flea market, the first notes they heard were Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd or Jim Morrison. That’s why we want to make that connection between the origins of the street market and the music that was played back then».
The origins of Las Dalias go back to 1954, where the bar is currently located: «at that time there was no electricity, there was no road, there was no airport. At that time the first weddings were taking place. In the San Carlos area there was not a single area for weddings. People brought everything here and ate it here, that’s how it all started. My father, a few years later, opened a chambao behind the bar and, at the beginning of the 60s, a restaurant. It established itself as one of the island’s typical restaurants. But it wasn’t until 1985 when, from an art gallery which, although it didn’t end up being a big business, gave rise to this street market», explains Juanito, looking back to the origins of Las Dalias, which has been constantly adapting to the new times without abandoning its essence.