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Event Calendar
JANUARY
6th - Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos - Three Kings Parade
The Parade of The Three Kings is the oldest in Spain. It has been held since 1885. The fiesta celebrates the arrival of the 3 kings to Bethlehem. Traditionally this is when the Spanish give and receive gifts, coal being given to naughty children. The evening of the 5th sees processions with the kings on floats, throwing sweets, and the 6th spent with the family. More Spanish are merging the 2 customs and having gifts on both the 25th December and on the 6th. The sales start usually a day or so afterwards.
Throughout the month - Build-up of the Malaga Carnival
Check local guides for more information
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FEBRUARY
24th - Finale of Malaga Carnival.
The festivities usually start approximately four weeks before Maundy Tuesday. It's filled with the usual Spanish customs of food, drink, and dancing. With fireworks, displays (Of all natures) and fancy dress.
TBC - Seville Tapas fair
28th - Andalucia day
This is the celebration of Andalucia becoming an autonomous community. General everything is closed. Families tend to spend it together taking a walk, eating a meal (Restaurants and bars tend to be open) some places have the flag flying.
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MARCH
12th - Commonwealth day in Gibraltar
19th - San Jose - Father's day
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APRIL
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
The celebration of Easter. During the week of Semana Santa, especially from Holy Thursday onwards, there are the closing of roads for the religious processions bearing images and crosses. The local town halls will have printed timetables of the processions. This is definitely a must for tourists to witness.
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May
4th May - Jerez Horse Fair
This festival takes place during the 1st week of May where the finest horses and riders from around the world compete in various trials and competitions in the Gonzalez Hontoria Park. If horses aren't your thing then go for the tapas and sherry in the casitas in the park (Temporary tapas bars) and the stunning flamenco dresses! We went the 1st year we were here. It really is an amazing festival full of colour and life. We also visited one of the bodegas, Williams & Humbert and rode in a carriage in the Gonzalez Hontoria Park.
15th San Isidro - Celebrated in Estepona.
San Isidro is the patron saint of labourers. Estepona holds annual Agriculture and Livestock Fair around this time and there are street parades and singing.
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JUNE
TBC - Gastronomic Day - Benahavis.
Restaurants offer samples of their best dishes
6-7th- Virgen de la Cabeza Romería - Ronda
This is a pilgrimage, organized by the Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza brotherhood, which brings the virgin head from La Mercal Church to the Hermitage. The day starts with a mass and baptismal of new brothers. After the Virgin arrives at the hermitage the festivities begin with the usual singing and dancing. Leading up to the pilgrimage is a week of special masses and events.
2nd week - Marbella Feria - SAN BERNABE (11TH)
Every town has its own feria. The origin of the ferias is in the Middle Ages as a way of exchanging goods. During the day it's usually based in the town with the main streets closed with stalls and bars, music and dancing. In the evening it moves to the Feria ground where you will find all the usually fair ground rides for adults and children. There will also be casitas serving food, drink and sometimes providing entertainment, as well as the stalls providing snacks. The women tend to wear the traditional flamenco dress.
11TH CORPUS CHRISTI
This is celebrated throughout Andalucia with a procession carrying the consecrated host. In Granada it lasts 3 days. Other noteworthy towns are Zahara de la Sierra and Malaga
24TH - SAN JUAN
Celebrated on the night of the 23rd with fireworks and bonfires on the beaches. Food and drink are usually available. - Check out Puerto Banus and Heaven (Along the New Golden mile)
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JULY
1st week - Estepona Feria (See June Marbella Feria)
14th - Polo season begins in Soto Grande
16th - La Virgin Del Carmen
This is celebrated in fishing villages along the coast as La virgin Del Carmen is the protectress of fisherman. On the 16th July in the evening her statue is carried to the sea and the statue & people set off in boats accompanied by music and fireworks. It's recommended to go to Estepona to witness this celebration.
25th - Santiago (St. James, Patron Saint of Spain)
A national holiday where Catholic pilgrimages and many Spaniards travel to Santiago de Compostela. Here amongst the festivities and fireworks, the politicians meet at Plaza de Obradorio appealing to the saint for peace.
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AUGUST
11-15TH - Virgin Del Rosario - Benahavis
Starts with a mass and various flamenco groups are involved
15TH - Asunción de la virgin (Feast of the Assumption)
This is celebrated in a mix of catholic and pagan festivities. There is the mass, with everyone decked out in the fine clothes, street processions with the statue of Mary at the head. Partying usually continues into the early hours.
3rd Week - Malaga Feria (See June Marbella Feria)
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SEPTEMBER
TBC - Tourist Day - Torremolinos
he dancing, street stalls, traditional dress and giant paella pay homage to the tourism that changed Torremolinos.
6-7th - Feria Goyesca - Ronda
This is a week of festivities in Ronda of flamenco, singing, dancing, arts & crafts and competitions culminating at the weekend with the corrida - bullfight. Its theme is centred on Francisco de la Goya, Pedro Romero (Greatest bullfighter in 18th century) and Antonio Ordonez (Greatest bullfighter in 20th century)
8TH - Vendemia Festival - Jerez
Usually in Spain the vintage seasons begin on the 21st September (Feast of St. Matthew). However in Jerez it officially starts on the 8th - Feast of Nativity of Our Lady. The festival is held on the weekend closest to that date. The program differs each year but usually starts with a procession on the Friday with the queen of the vintage and her handmaidens. During the evening and following days there are fireworks, offerings, bullfights, dancing and exhibitions. On the Sunday is the "blessing of the grapes". After which the queen puts her grapes into a wooden wine press and the 1st pressing of the vintage begins.
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OCTOBER
12th - Día de La Hispanidad
Celebrates the day Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. The best celebration is in Madrid with the Spanish Royalty, Presidents of the autonomous governments, military and foreign diplomats taking part in a parade to La Plaza de Colon. The flying forces put on an aerial show.
3rd Week - San Pedro Feria and San Pedro de Alcantara day
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NOVEMBER
1st - All saints
The Spanish not only remember the dead saints but use this day to remember all those who have died. This day starts with mass or a visit to loved ones graves. In Cadiz province, the time is known as Tosantos (todos Santos, all saints) most towns celebrate for the whole week. Three types of cakes are available around this time; huesos de Santo (saints bones) which is a tube of marzipan filled with a cream, buñuelos de viento (Puffs of wind) which are like small donuts and panellets which are made from a type of sweet potato and ground almonds.
11th - Feast of San Martin
The Spanish celebrates Saint Martin of Tours by the slaughtering of pigs, in preparation for the winter-time drying of hams and sausages, at a fiesta called la Matanzas - literally, the killing - in all the towns and villages of the mountain areas of Andalucia. The day begins with the killing of the pigs and is spent butchering the carcass and stuffing sausages and black pudding. A great deal of eating and drinking accompany these events. N.B: The Danish celebrate this day the evening before by eating duck, to revenge Saint Martin who was hiding (His parishioners wanted him to become a bishop) but was given away by the geese making a lot of noise, and as geese was too expensive to eat the Danish chose duck instead.
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DECEMBER
24th - Noche Buena Christmas Eve
Traditionally at least the 1st part of the evening is spent in the home with the family eating. Seafood is the traditional fayre followed by Turron - A Spanish sweet made for over 5 centuries, traditionally with almonds, now available in many varieties. Enter any supermarket to see an aisle dedicated to Turron. The 25th doesn't really feature in the Spanish calendar, although due to tourism, some restaurants are open and offer a special menu - Book in advance. Everything else will be closed.
28th - Veridales (Malaga)
Veridales is a form of flamenco with costumes similar to English Morris dancers. The competition is held outside Malaga city. The day is also the equivalent to "Aprils Fool"
31st -Noche Vieja (New Years Eve)
As everywhere else in the world the welcoming of the New Year differs slightly. All restaurants and bars will be open with special menus. The local councils will also have street parties in some areas and fireworks. Puerto Banus has a fantastic atmosphere, with Metro Pizza & Pasta offering a very good menu. Marbella is also another good area to celebrate in. Wherever you are make sure you have your 12 grapes. At the 1st strike of the clock and thereafter for each of the 12 counts you have to eat a grape. Should you succeed in finishing them correctly you will have good luck for the whole of the next year. Also wearing something red is considered lucky.
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