Calendar of Festivals (Fiestas) in Andalusia 2008

January

• Jan. 1-2 — La Toma celebration of the entry of the Reyes Catolicos into the city - at Granada.
• Jan. 5 — Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos – Epiphany parade at major towns and cities.

February

• Feb. 1 — San Cecilio fiesta in Granada's traditionally gypsy quarter of Sacromonte, Granda.*
• Mid-month — Carnaval is an extravagent week-long event (leading up to Lent) in all the Andalucian cities. Cadiz, above all is well-known.*

March

• March 17-23 — Holy Week (Semana Santa) has its most elaborate and dramatic celebrations in Andalucia. Find memorable processions of floats and penitents in Sevilla, Malaga, Granada and Cordoba. All culminate with dramatic candlelight processions at dawn on Good Friday (21st), with Easter Sunday (23rd) itself more of a family occasion. In Iznajar, the most typical feature is El Paso or the representation of Christ's Passion (La Pasión), performed by the locals in the parish church. Perhaps the most noteworthy of the processions is the one which takes place on Palm Sunday, in which both Jesus riding a donkey and the apostles who accompany him are real people, and the Jesus of Nazareth (Jesús Nazareno) Procession on Good Friday, also featuring live protagonists.*

April

• Last week (approximately two weeks after Easter, usually in April, occasionally in May) week-long feria de Abril at Sevilla, the largest fair in Spain.

May

• May 1-2 — Romeria de Nuestra Señora de la Estrella at Navas de San Juan – Jaen Province’s most important pilgrimage.
• May 3 — Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) carnival at Pampaneira (Alpujarras, Granada).
• First 2 weeks — Cruces de Mayo in Cordoba 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). An aristocratic horse fair at Jerez de la Frontera.
• May 17 — San Isidro Romeria at Setenil (Cadiz).
• Pentecost (7 weeks after Easter) Romeria del Rocio, when horse drawn carriages and processions converge from all over the south on El Rocio (Huelva).
• Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity) bullfights and festivities in Granada, Sevilla, Ronda, Vejer and Zahara de la Sierra.*
• Last week — Feria de la Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda. Prolonged binge to celebrate the town's major product, which is used to wash down huge quantities of seafood while watching flamenco and sporting events on the river beach.

June

• Second week — Feria de San Bernabe at Marbella, often spectacular since this is the richest town in Andalucia.
• June 13 — San Antonio fiesta at Trevelez (Alpujarras, Granada) with mock battles between Moors and Christians.
• Third week — Algeciras fair and fiesta, another major event of the south.
• June 23-26 — Feria of Alhaurin de la Torre (Malaga) – processions, giants and an important flamenco competition.
• End of 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

• First or second Saturday — Flamenco Night or Flamenco Festival in Zambra.*
• Early July — International Guitar Festival at Cordoba brings together top international acts from classical, flamenco and Latin American music.*
• July 9-14 — Around feast of San Francisco Solano, Montilla (Cordoba) celebrates its annual feria.*

August

• Aug. 13-21 — Feria de Malaga - one of Andalucia's most enjoyable fiestas for visitors, who are heartily welcomed by the ebullient malagueños.
• Aug. 15 — Ascension of the Virgin Fair with casetas (dance tents) throughout Andalucia.
• Aug. 15 — Riotous Noche de Vino wine festival at Competa (Malaga). Dancing, Singing and endless drinking!
• Aug. 17-20 — The first cycle of horse races along Sanlucar de Barrameda's beach, the second tournament takes place a week later.
• Aug. 19-21 — Vendinia – grape harvest fiesta at Montilla (Cordoba).*
• Aug. 23-25 — Guadalquivir festival at Sanlucar de Barrameda with bullfights and an important flamenco competition.

September

• Sept. 7-11 — September Festival in Iznajar.*
• First two weeks — Annual Ronda Feria with flamenco contests and Corrida Goyesca (bullfights in 18th century dress).
• First/second week — Vendimia (celebration of the vintage) at Jerez.
• Sept. 29-Oct. 4 — Ubeda’s (Jaen) Fiesta de San Miguel with a fair and casetas.

October

• Oct. 1 — San Miguel Fiesta in Granada's Albaicin quarter and elsewhere, even at Torremolinos.*
• Oct. 6-12 — Fuengirola’s Feria del Rosario – horse-riding events and flamenco.
• Oct. 15-23 — Feria de San Lucas - Jaen's Major fiesta, dating back to the 15th century.

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