The Spanish love to party and take advantage of the town’s patron saint day to have a week-long celebration. These town festivals are called “ferias” and are full of music, dancing, delicious food and cold drinks. They are held mainly through the summer months and are a great way to experience the culture of Spain and the wonderful joie de vivre of the people.
Insider’s Tip – There are typically two parts to every feria, the day feria and the night feria. The day feria starts at lunchtime and focuses on eating, drinking and dancing in the street until around 8 pm. The night feria is often (although not always) held in a different place and is a massive fair, with more music, drinking and dancing until the wee hours. If you’re going as a family to the night fair, look for the “Día de los Niños” (usually a Wednesday) when all rides are half price and go early so you don’t have to queue and it’s not so hectic.
On the Costa del Sol there are ferias in every town and village, but of course, they vary in size and importance. The most important is the Malaga Feria in August, which is a huge event celebrated all around the town, as well as in the fairground area slightly out of the centre. Thousands descend onto Malaga for the feria and it’s crazy, noisy and hot but full of passion and Andalusian flair.
Marbella has another great feria at the beginning of June, which is a more manageable size for a visitor. They have been moving the feria around, but at the moment the day feria is based in the middle of town, in the Parque de la Alameda and Avenida del Mar. This is the square right opposite the Old Town on the main road through Marbella and the pedestrianised strip from there to the sea. There you will find stalls or “casetas” with bars, food, and music, plus performances and a buzzing atmosphere. From 8 pm, the action moves up to the fairground by the La Cañada shopping centre with dance performances from the local schools, loads of rides and yet more “casetas” to keep the party going late into the night.
