Fiestas
JANUARY 1-2 La Toma celebration of the entry of the Reyes Catolicos into the city - at Granada. 6 Romeria de la Virgen del Mar pilgrimage procession from Almeria. 17 Romeria del Ermita del Santo . Similar event at Guadix. FEBRUARY 1 San Cecilio fiesta in Granada's traditionally gypsy quarter of Sacromonte. Week before Lent Carnaval is an extravagant week-long event in all the Andalucian cities. Cadiz, above all, celebrates, with uproarious street parades, fancy dress and satirical music competitions. MARCH/APRIL Holy Week ( Semana Santa ) has its most elaborate and dramatic celebrations in Andalucia. You'll find memorable processions of floats and penitents at Sevilla, Malaga, Granada and Cordoba and to a lesser extent in smaller towns such as Jerez, Arcos, Baeza and Ubeda. All culminate with dramatic candlelight processions at dawn on Good Friday, with Easter Day itself more of a family occasion. Last week of April (approximately 2 weeks after Easter) Week-long Feria de Abril at Sevilla: the largest fair in Spain. A small April fair - featuring bull running - is held in Vejer. MAY First week 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). Somewhat aristocratic Horse Fair at Jerez de la Frontera. 3 Moros y Cristianos ("Moors and Christians") carnival at Pampaneira (Alpujarras). 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 (variable - Thursday after Trinity) Bullfights and festivities at 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, with 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. 13 San Antonio fiesta at Trevelez (Alpujarras) with mock battles between Moors and Christians. Third week The Algeciras fair and fiesta, another major event of the south. 23-24 Candelas de San Juan - bonfires and effigies at Vejer and elsewhere. 30 Conil feria . End 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 Early July The International Guitar Festival at Cordoba brings together top international acts from classical, flamenco and Latin American music. End of month Virgen del Mar - Almeria's major annual shindig, with parades, horse-riding events, concerts and lots of drinking. AUGUST 5 Trevelez observes a midnight romeria to Mulhacen. 13-21 Feria de Malaga - one of Andalucia's most enjoyable fiestas for visitors, who are heartily welcomed by the ebullient malaguenos . 15 Ascension of the Virgin Fair with casetas (dance tents) at Vejer and elsewhere. Riotous Noche del Vino wine festival at Competa (Malaga). Third week The first cycle of horse races along Sanlucar de Barrameda's beach, with heavy official and unofficial betting; the second tournament takes place a week later. 23-25 Guadalquivir festival at Sanlucar de Barrameda with bullfights and an important flamenco competition. SEPTEMBER First two weeks Ronda's annual feria with flamenco contests and Corrida Goyesca - bullfights in eighteenth-century dress. 1-3 Celebration of the Virgen de la Luz in Tarifa: processions and horseback riding. First/second week Vendimia (celebration of the vintage) at Jerez. 29-Oct 2 Feria in Orgiva (Alpujarras). OCTOBER 1 San Miguel fiesta in Granada's Albaicin quarter and elsewhere, even at Torremolinos. 15-23 Feria de San Lucas - Jaen's major fiesta, dating back to the fifteenth century.
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