The Spanish Ferias The Spanish look for any excuse for a feria, or in English a fair. The summer around the Costa del Sol is a very colourful place to be as there are ferias up and down the coast. It is a great Spanish tradition and something that is fun to be part of. You will see people of all ages, adults, children, men, women and boys all dressed in traditional costumes, dancing singing and enjoying the festivities. Each town along the Costa del Sol celebrates in their own style but they all share the main theme in common. The day of the fair or La feria del dia consists of a procession dedicated to the local Virgin on the main day. What can you expect during the fair As well as the vast array of traditional Andalucian food and drink on offer you will be amazed by the riders on their elegant Spanish horses dressed in the traditional Spanish riding costumes. As you look around the streets you will notice the women both young and old decked out in flamenco dresses and dancing to traditional flamenco music on street corners. The sounds and smells all around you will entice you to join the locals and help them party away the day and long into the night. At night some of the young children go home and you will see the youth and adults flock to the town centre for the Feria de Noche. During this part of the fair it is not uncommon to see some of Spain's famous singers help their townfolk celebrate until the early hours of the morning. Dates of the town fairs along the Costa del Sol The information below is for a guide only. Please check with the relevant town halls to confirm the dates listed. Estepona Feria (Tourist office 00 34 952 802 002) Feria and Fiestas Mayores. July 5 to July 10 with the main day on July 9. Benalmadena Pueblo Feria (Tourist office 00 34 952 442 494) August 11 to August 15 with the main day on August 14. The Benalmadena Pueblo feria takes place at Plaza Del Alguacil with the evening dancing and festivities taking place near the Church. Malaga Feria (Tourist Office 00 34 952 122 020) August 12 to August 21 with the main day on August 19 This is by far one of the largest fairs of the Costa del Sol with a huge firework display on August 12 at midnight on the popular Malagueta beach and another spectacular display on the final night of 21 August at the Cortijo de Torres. The location of the day fair is the city centre and the evening fair is at the Cortijo de Torres. Ronda Feria (Tourist Office 00 34 952 187 119) September 5 to September 11 with the main day on September 8. The day fair at Ronda (Feria del Dia) is renowned for being one of the best on the Costa del Sol and is worth a trip up to the mountain town of Ronda. The location of the fair is Avenida de Malaga in the town centre. Mijas Feria (Tourist Office 00 34 952 589 034) The Feria Virgen de la Pena runs between September 7 and September 11 with the main day on September 8. The fair is located at Plaza de Virgen de la Pena. Torremolinos Feria (Tourist Office 00 34 952 379 512) The Feria de San Miguel runs from September 28 to October 2. The location of the fair in Torremolinos is at Auditorio Municipal Principe de Asturias. Fuengirola Feria (Tourist Office 00 34 952 467 457) The Feria Virgen del Rosario runs between October 6 and October 12 with the main day on October 7. The location of the fair is on Avenida Jesus Santos Rein. San Pedro de Alcantara Feria (Tourist Office 00 34 952 785 252) The fair is on from October 17 through to October 23 with the main day on October 19. It is located in Calle Jorge Guillen.

The Fiesta Culture in Spain The fiesta culture in Spain is difficult to categorize because there are so many different fiestas all over the country and every one has its own characteristic features and events. The literal translation of Fiesta would be a ‘party’ but that really is an understatement. Religion, costumes, parades, bulls, fireworks, food and music are the basic ingredients and if you are looking for passion, this is it! Some fiestas are celebrated all around the country but every region has its own kind of fiesta in which they excel. Sometimes these different types of celebrations are combined with other types or a unique event is added to make it special. Here are the most popular types of Spanish fiestas: Fiesta Mayor The Fiesta Mayor is the main celebration of a city or town. It’s therefore a local happening and every town has its own dates. It includes a fair, live music, markets, fireworks and a lot of drinking. Sometimes these basic celebrations include a specific event like the food fights or bull running. The fiesta mayor is probably the most popular part of culture in Spain. Fiesta Patronal Every town has its own “Patron” or Saint, which is honoured during the Fiesta Patronal with processions, flower offerings and a special mass in the church. This is a popular fiesta to mix with other fiestas or particular events like bull teasing, bonfires and food feasts. This is really a good mix of culture in Spain because it includes religion, bulls and other traditional happenings. Ferias This one has two meanings. The fair that accompanies many fiestas with the classic bumper cars, haunted house and candy stands. But a feria is also a kind of fiesta where people come together to enjoy certain aspects of the typical culture in Spain. Many ferias, like the Feria de Abril en Sevilla, started out long ago as a cattle market but has grown to become a kind of typical Spanish festival about the flamenco culture in Spain including bulls and horses. Romerias Romerias are traditional pilgrimages using decorated caravans and horses. Hundreds of these depart in groups from different spots in the country to get together at a religious location. Although supposed to be a religious experience, there is a lot of colour, music and happiness. Moros y Cristianos To celebrate the "Reconquista", some towns re-enact the battles against the Moors. These fiestas are called Moros y Cristianos and are especially interesting in the Costa Blanca. There are parades with impressive historical costumes and huge amounts of gunpowder are fired. Very spectacular events! And a great way to explore the historical culture in Spain. Hogueras and Fallas These are the fiestas with bonfires probably the most spectacular part of the culture in Spain. These fires can vary from a pile of junk to the most beautiful sculptures you have ever seen. The Hogueras de san Juan en Alicante and the Fallas en Valencia are good examples of creativity and artistry in Spanish fiestas. There are a lot of fireworks and beautiful traditional costumes. Festivales The theme of a festival can be any aspect of culture in Spain, many of them are about music. In Spain there are festivals about gastronomy, film, theatre, literature: you name it. During these celebrations the best that the local culture in Spain is offerd to everyone who wants to enjoy it.