Fiesta, Ferias, Festivals - Colourful local life
What's on and when: From the local white villages summer ferias to the crowd filled partying nearer the coast, here is a selection of some of the best.
El Día de Andalucía - a more recent festival to add to the vast number of fiestas throughout the region – a family day relaxing, celebrating local food and the Andalucians special way of life. Start with a local breakfast of toasted country bread with extra virgin olive oil and tomatoes, a tapas of fresh cheese roasted on an open fire with peppers, fried aubergines drizzled with river cane molasses, pisto with mountain herbs and tarta de Almendras – organic almond tart... combine with a touch of Malaga vino and the warmth of the sun: 28 February.
Semana Santa - Easter Holy Week, Malaga: Staging of processions through the city with floats and bearers starting on Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday. 'El Paso' is the famous outdoor dramatization of the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ, held each year in an outdoor arena in the village of Riogordo and played by over 500 local people.
Feria de Abril, Sevilla - Spring Fair Seville: Traditional flamenco, colourful dresses, horses, carriages and people - joyful atmosphere: April - May (14-22 April 2024)
El Festival de Musica y Danza de Granada - International Festival of music and dance, Granada: Prestigious program of international classical artists with events, workshops and masterclasses: June - July.
Noche de San Juan, Torre del Mar: Celebrating the night of Saint John and the longest day with fire, water and light. A beachside tradition of picnicking, and jumping over fires to purify the spirit with live music, stalls and family entertainment into the night: June 23
Feria de Agosto, Malaga: All day, all night food, drink and music, city centre and edge of town fairground - a week long street party: mid August. The local mountain villages also have their own week long ferias with live music events and dancing into the night, Riogordo's is in mid August.
Starlite Festival, Marbella: a three month summer program with a star-studded line up, which in the past has attracted major international artists - exclusive atmosphere, lounge and open air events: June - September.
Celebration of the Grape Harvest, Competa: this mountain village is alive with music of the Fandangos, wine tastings and demonstrations celebrating the first grape harvest: Mid August.
Andalucia Big Festival, Malaga: A three day macro event with an international star line up performing live on Sacaba beach in Malaga city: September 8 -10.
Dia de la Pasa - Day of the Raisin, El Borge: Festival celebrating the raisin, one of the main products of the region. Traditional singing and dancing throughout the day, sampling muscatel wine and discovering the history of the grape variety - small, cheerful village festival: Third Sunday in September.
Festival de Verdiales, El Borge, Comares, Benagalbon and other local villages: Los Verdiales is a type of local lively folk music, its name related to the variety of olives particularly grown in this region of Axarquia. There are numerous small concerts held in villages during the autumn coinciding with the first picking of the eating olives: Late October.
Fiesta del mosto y de la chacina - Festival of young wine and cold meats, Colmenar: A day to discover and taste some typical products of the region and to be immersed in its folklore and traditional music: Late November - December
