Fiestas
Fiestas are serious business in Spain, from the biggest cities to the smallest village. Most originated as religious events and feature one of the hundreds of Saints traditionally honoured in Spanish towns and villages.
Preparations for the bigger events start right after the last firework from the current one fades, and even in small towns and villages work starts weeks before involving most of the people of the town. Usually the festivities are spread over a week or even more, with a wide range of activities planned, although the final programme is often not published until quite near to the time. Even then it is routinely subject to change as is the Spanish way.
To enjoy the best of fiesta time, make sure you get a siesta in the afternoon as evening events and festivities rarely begin much before 10pm and often carry on well into the small hours. You have been warned!!
FESTIVAL AND FIESTAS – COSTA BLANCA/MURCIA REGION
JANUARY
Los Reyes (the Three Wise Men). On 6th January Spanish children receive their Christmas gifts. On the evening of 5th most towns and villages hold processions with floats and bands parading through the streets and Los Reyes throw sweets and toys into the crowds. Much good-natured fighting ensues to get the most booty! For something a bit different try San Pedro del Pinatar where the three kings arrive by boat…
FEBRUARY
February is Carnival season in many
Spanish towns and cities. One of the biggest and best is in Aguilas, about 40 minutes south of here, a huge spectacle to rival Rio with stunning costumes and over a hundred floats. The fiesta lasts a week with various events and parades but the main event is on the last Saturday where the locals are joined by other carnaval groups from the region. The procession lasts around 4 hours and the party goes on all night. Torrevieja puts on a pretty good show too, parades normally start around 5pm or 6pm.
MARCH
Valencia – Las Fallas – the week leading up to 19th March. Probably Fallas is the most spectacular, complete fiesta in Spain, it´s certainly the loudest! The Spanish only need the tiniest excuse for a firework display and Valencia goes to town during this week with several pyrotechnic dislays and bone-juddering mascletas (co-ordinated detonation 
of explosives) every day. Fallas honours St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters and is based around the “Fallas” monuments (ninots), which are huge, often humorous effigies reflecting famous or local personalities and politicians. They are exhibited in the streets during Fallas week, and on 19th at midnight, they are set on fire and burn in immense, spectacularly beautiful pyres, an event known as La Crema. During the fiesta days the streets are alive with fireworks displays, music bands, artistic lighting, street 
performances and parades, often going on all night long… Over 100,000 Valencianas take part in the parades and displays of the Fallas Festival and the whole city enjoys a week of partying. On 20th March work starts on the monuments for next year…For more info and program check out www.fallasfromvalencia.com
MARCH/APRIL – Easter Week (Semana Santa)
The biggest cultural and religious event of the year in Spain with a week of parades and events in most towns, the most spectacular of which can be seen in Cartagena and Murcia. Huge floats with religious icons are paraded through the streets carried by the various “Corfriades” followed by processions of penitents, bands and religious groups. The parades are a little sombre but spectacular 
nonetheless; get a good seat as they can take hours to pass. After the parades the street parties begin and go on well into the night.
Events of particular note locally are the parade through the streets of Orihuela of the Paso La Diablesa on Holy Saturday, the Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) procession with palm leaves in Elche, and the spectacular parade in Crevillente held on the Tuesday before Good Friday
APRIL
Alcoy´s Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) Festival, inland from Alicante, is widely regarded as the best in the area. This festival commemorates the Reconquista, or the re-establishment of Christian rule in Spain and takes place in many towns at different times of the year. Locals dress as either Moors or Christians for the occasion and re-enact battles. Costumes are spectacular and there are parades, street parties and firework displays. Check local Tourist Info for dates and locations.
MAY
Torrevieja – The Feria de Mayo was allegedly started by an Andalucian exile living in Torrevieja as a street party outside his bar. Held during the first week in May it is now one of the major events for the town, celebrating all things Spanish including flamenco music, horsemanship and great food. Usually around 5 days of events and frivolities centred around the fairground in the port. Local bars set up “casitas” (portable bars) which are highly decorated and offer traditional fayre, music and dance areas. Fantastic atmosphere especially at the weekend when the locals dress up in traditional costume and strut their stuff, and around 200 Andalucian-style horsemen and a fair smattering of horse and carriage drivers parade through the town in a major showing-off display, demonstrating equestrian skills and also giving rides to the kids. In the evenings there is much partying in the casitas and a live music programme in the town culture centres. Altogether Feria de Mayo is probably one of the best fiestas in the area….great fun!!
Caravaca de la Cruz – The first week in May is a busy one in Caravaca, the home of one of the most sacred relics in Spain, the Santisima y Vera Cruz, thought to have been made from a piece of the wood from the cross of the crucifiction, which miraculously appeared in Caravaca in 1232. Early in the morning of 2nd May the highly decorated wine horses race and parade through the streets. In the afternoon the Holy Cross is taken in procession from the Sanctuary to the Parish of San Salvador and Moors & Christians re-enact battles and scenes from historic events. More parades, blessings, battles and festivities are held over the next couple of days and on the 5th the Cross is returned to the Sanctuary in a solemn religious ceremony.
San Isidro - Fiestas Patronales, during the first 3 weeks of May this small town situated amongst thousands of palm trees enjoys its fiestas with all the usual shenanigans centred around the 15th May, San Isidro is also the patron saint of Madrid. Highlights include Romeria, a day of national costume and street dancing, a street carnaval and the big day itself 15th where everyone takes to the streets and the party goes on all night. One of the best and most picturesque fiestas in the area.
JUNE
Alicante – Hogueras de San Juan, an amalgamation of the ancient pagan celebration of the summer solstice, and the Christian feast of San Juan in mid June when huge Hogueras (paper maché figures) are placed around town and carnival parades, live music and street parties take place with firework displays thoughout the day and night. I have never heard such loud fireworks ever..the ground literally shakes!! On the Dia de San Juan a huge palm tree shaped firework is set off from Alicante castle and simultaneously the Hogueras are set alight. Not for those of a nervous disposition!
San Javier hosts its Jazz Festival during 3 weeks around the end of June into July. International and local musicians and singers, as well as many well-known recording artists perform live at various venues. We recommend you buy tickets in advance for the most popular shows.
JULY
Orihuela - A week-long Moors and Christians fiesta, the highlight being the on 17th, el día del Pájaro (day of the Bird), when the city celebrates its re-conquest with parades, fireworks and re-enactments of battles.
SEPTEMBER
Orihuela – Festival of Nuestra Señora de Montserrat, the Patron Saint of Orihuela, is celebrated on the September 8, with religious acts, musical spectacles and fireworks.
Murcia – Moors and Christians
Cartagena – Romans and Carthaginians is a magnificent spectacle re-enacting the Roman conquest of the city from Hannibal and his Carthaginians. For a week thousands of “soldiers” set up camp on the outskirts of the city and various historical events are re-enacted each day culminating in the final great battle for the city. Roman reinforcements land by boat and the army marches to the castle where a huge battle ensues outside the original castle walls. After the victory the conquering Romans parade through the city and guess what…? Yep, street parties and fireworks!! This is a must-see event on a huge scale
San Miguel de Salinas - Fiestas Patronales, a 2 week event of concerts, parades and cultural events to celebrate St Michael,(the saint not the shop!) Most of the events take place at the town square or the fairground just outside town, where often there is a fair or a circus and a bullring is set up which also hosts horse shows. The whole town congregates at the fairground every evening for a gossip and a few beers. Fireworks on several days but the closing ceremony is the most spectacular.
OCTOBER
Los Montesinos - Another week long fiesta in the same vein as in San 
Miguel, culminates on October 12th, the day of Virgen del Carmen, the town´s patron saint. One of our favourite days out is the procession of the Virgin´s effigy from the village to a tiny church at La Marquesa, followed by all the townsfolk. Much eating, drinking, dancing and general merriment goes on all afternoon, take your cool box and join the fun. This day out kicks off the fiestas on the 1st Sunday in October
DECEMBER
Torrevieja – Dia de la Imaculada on 8th December is a national holiday celebrating the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. In the fairgound in Torrevieja there is a giant paella-making competition with much merry-making and the “paella gigante” also puts in an appearance, free but be prepared for a big queue!
Christmas in Spain is a family affair with Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) a very quiet night when all families get together for dinner. Christmas Day is a national holiday but the main event for the Spanish is on 6th January, Epiphany, when the 3 kings are thought to have arrived at Bethlehem bearing gifts.
Noche Vieja (New Years Eve) is also an occasion for a family dinner but at midnight everyone takes to the streets for the traditional toast of cava and grapes and the party begins! Eating one grape for each of the twelve strikes of the clock brings good luck for the coming year
FIESTAS PATRONALES – Patron Saints’ Days
Each town and village on the Costa Blanca has a feast day to celebrate its patron saint, who is thought to protect the town. These festivities can last for a couple of days up to a week and processions and dancing replace work – most shops and businesses close down during this period. Dates vary from place to place but local Tourist Offices can provide information.
FURTHER AFIELD
MARCH
Valencia – The Fallas de San Jose is a major pyrotechnic festival which takes place for five days every March and honours Saint Joseph. Huge paper maché figures known as “ninots” are made, which are satirical representations of local figures (actors, politicians, bull fighters). The figures are ceremoniously stuffed with fireworks and set alight on the day known as “La Crema”, the festival’s culmination, although one ninot is saved by popular vote and placed in the Museum of the Ninot. Every day during Fallas there are huge street parties and boisterous, daily firework contests. Don´t go to Valencia during Fallas if you can´t live without your 8 hours sleep!!
Valencia has the most spectacular Fallas celebrations but there are also festivities in many of the towns in the northern Costa Blanca. Check Tourist Info
APRIL
Seville – Spain’s biggest annual party, La Feria de Abril, takes place two weeks after Semana Santa
MAY
In Granada and Cordoba it’s the festival of the Cruces de Mayo on 6th where large crosses are erected and are paraded around the towns followed by partying in the streets. The fun doesn´t stop there in Cordoba with the Fiesta de los Patios also taking place during the first week in May, a competition to find the city’s most beautiful flower covered patio. Shortly afterwards it’s the Feria de Cordoba, a fiesta of flamenco and all things Spanish which seems to get bigger every year.
Jerez‘s famous Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair) is also held this month and Madrid hosts the world’s largest bullfight festival including many cultural events, parades and parties to honour San Isidro, the Patron Saint of the capital.
JULY
Pamplona´s Festival de San Fermin, the famous running of the bulls which always begins on 7th for a week.
South Coast towns celebrate El Día de la Virgen de Carmen on 16th when statues of the Virgin are carried in from the sea by a flotilla of fishing boats with some impressive firework displays.
In the north thousands of pilgrims walk all or part of the the Camino de Santiago in the days preceding the 25th, congregating on the Día de Santiago in Santiago de Compostela in celebration of the Feast of St James. The party goes on all night and into the next day.
AUGUST
Buñol, near Valencia, plays host to one of Spain’s maddest festivals on the last Wednesday in August. La Tomatina is the world’s biggest tomato fight and is great fun. Get there early if you want to be in the thick of the action.
Malaga - Feria de Malaga is an enormous 10-day party comparable with the Seville April Fair
SEPTEMBER
Jerez celebrates its wine harvest with the Fiestas de Otoño, a 3-week affair beginning on the first Saturday of September, involving sherry, horses and flamenco.
OCTOBER
Zaragoza – the Fiestas del Pilar is celebrated every year on the 12th of October and celebrates the appearance of the Virgin Mary to St James with music, parades, flowers, theatre and dancing in honour of the Virgin of Pilar, the female patron saint of Spain. The pillar (Pilar) on which the Virgin descended is displayed inside the Holy Chapel (Capilla Santa) of the Basilica in the main square and attracts hundreds of pilgrims all year round who arrive to kiss a small piece of the pillar which isn’t protected. Join the locals in the street celebrations and learn to dance the “jota”, a dance unique to Zaragoza. The event also coincides with the national holiday of Hispanidad, celebrating Columbus’s discovery of the New World.
website MorosyCristianos
See the website Spanish Fiestas
See the AngloINFO What’s On guide
See The AngloFILE for Tourist Office & Information
- Costa Blanca/Murcia area
- Fiestas further afield
