Fiestas in Andalucia

January

1-2 "La Toma" Celebration of the entry of the Reyes Católicos into the city – at Granada .

6 Romería de la Virgen del Mar Pilgrimage procession from Almería.

17 Romería del Ermita del Santo Similar event at Guadix.

February

1 San Cecilio fiestas in Granada 's traditionally qypsy quarter of Sacromonte.

Week before Lent Carnaval is an extravagant week-long event in all the Andalucían cities. Cádiz, above all, celebrates, with uproarious street parades, fancy dress and satirical music competitions.

March and April

Holy Week (Semana Santa) has its most elaborate and dramatic celebrations in Andalucía. You'll find memorable processions of floats and penitents at Sevilla, Málaga, Granada and Córdoba, and to a lesser extent in smaller towns such as Jerez , Arcos Baeza y Úbeda. All culminate with dramatic candlelight processions at dawn on Good Friday, with Easter Day itself more of a family occasion.

Last week of April (approximately 2 weeks after Easter) Week-long Feria de Abril at Sevilla: the largest fair in Spain . A small April fair –featuring bull running- is held in Vejer.

May

First week Cruces de Mayo in Córdoba celebrates the Holy Cross and includes a “prettiest patio” competition in a town full of prize examples.

Early May (usually the week after Sevilla's fair). Somewhat aristocratic Horse Fair at Jerez de la Frontera.

3 Moros y Cristianos (“Moors and Crhistians”) carnival at Pampaneira (Alpujarras).

17 San Isidro Romería at Setenil (Cádiz).

Pentecost (7 weeks after Easter) Romería del Rocío, when horse-drawn carriages and processions converge from all over the south on El Rocío ( Huelva ).

Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity) Bullfights and festivities at Granada , Sevilla, Ronda, Vejer and Zahara de la Sierra.

Last Week Feria de la Manzanilla , Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Prolongad binge to celebrate the town's major product, with flamenco and sporting events on the river beach.

June

Second week Feria de San Bernabé at Marbella , often spectacular since this is the richest town in Andalucía.

13 San Antonio fiesta at Trevélez (Alpujarras) with mock battles between Moors and Christians.

Third week The Algeciras fair and fiestas, another major event of the south.

23-24 Candelas de San Juan – bonfires and effigies at Vejer and elsewhere.

30 Conil feria.

End June/early July International Festival of Music and Dance – major dance/flamenco groups and chamber orchestras perform in Granada 's Alhambra palace, Generalife and Carlos V palace.

July

Early July The International Guitar Festival at Córdoba brings together top international acts from classical, flamenco and Latin American Music.

End of month Virgen del Mar – Almería's major annual shindig, with parades, horseriding events, concerts and lots of drinking.

August

5 Travélez observes a midnight romería to Mulhacén.

13-21 Feria de Málaga – one of Andalucía's most enjoyable fiestas for visitors, who are heartily welcomed by the ebullient malagueños.

15 Ascension of the Virgin Fair with casetas (dance tents) at Vejer and elsewhere. Riotous Noche del Vino wine festival at Competa (Málaga).

Third week The first cycle of horse races along the Sanlúcar de Barrameda's beach, with heavy official and unofficial betting; the second tournament takes place a week later.

23-25 Guadalquivir festival at san lucar de Barrameda, with bullfighting and an important flamenco competition.

September

First two weeks Ronda´s annual feria , with flamenco contests and Corrida Goyesca – bullfights in eighteenth-century dress.

1-3 Celebration of the Virgen de la Luz in Tarifa: processions and horseback riding.

First/second week Vendimia (celebration of the vintage) at Jerez .

29-Oct 2 Feria in Órgiva (Alpujarras).

October

1 San Miguel fiesta in Granada 's Albaicín quarter and elsewhere, including Torremolinos.

15-23 Feria de San Lucas Jaén's major fiesta, dating back to the fifteenth century.

 

 

...Visiting Andalucia?
We highly recomend Rough Guide to Andalucia

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