Press release

THE REGENT STREET FESTIVAL 2006: A WALK THROUGH SPAIN ATTRACTS RECORD NUMBERS

5 September 2006

The Regent Street Festival 2006: A Walk Through Spain exceeded all expectations with over 500,000 people visiting this world-renowned shopping street. With the street closed to traffic visitors could discover the new shops and get into the spirit of a Spanish fiesta.

The Spanish Tourist Office and the Regent Street Association delivered the theme for this year’s Regent Street Festival, now in its seventh year. The famous street was divided up into fourteen sections, representing Spain’s diverse and fascinating regions: Andalusia, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Castile-Leon, Green Spain Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria, Galicia, Catalonia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre and Valencia.

Some of the highlights included the famous Castellers from Catalonia; human towers were built several times throughout the day. From the Balearic Islands a magnificent equestrian display was performed - Fiesta de Sant Joan in Menorca; eight beautiful, highly-trained Menorcan horses were ridden by owners dressed in traditional island folk costume, accompanied by a thirty piece brass band. The Carnival Queens from the Canary Islands and much more delivered a carnival atmosphere.

As well as entertainment, al fresco dining and shopping for all, many of the Regent Street retailers such as Habitat, Austin Reed, Hawes and Curtis, Jaeger, Timberland and Brooks Brothers joined in to give the festival a true international feeling.