Andalusia’s fairs and festivals: a calendar

Do you have a feeling there is always something to do in Andalusia? Every weekend a fair or festival, always something to celebrate?
Well we’re here to tell you that you are more or less right. The Andalusians do definitely enjoy life to the fullest. They will take any opportunity for a celebration and we admire them for it. Moreover, they are good at it too!

It is easy to get lost when it comes to figuring out what is when and where the best place to be is at that moment. That’s why from now we will provide you with a full calendar of Andalusian’s fairs and events every month. The ideal tool to draw up the perfect trip through Andalusia. Keep an eye out every month to stay up to date. 

19^th February – 6th march: Jerez de la Frontera Flamenco Festival 

Jerez is part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Flamenco music, together with Triana in Sevilla and Cadiz, and has a longstanding history with the dance and music. It will come as no surprise that they dedicate a festival to it every year. The Flamenco Festival in Jerez is a two-week festival that takes over the whole city with performances and workshops.

If you want to get to know this big part of the Andalusian culture, Jerez is the place to be in February and March. Get ready for a lot of colour, hand-clapping and dancing. 

9th March: El Entierro de la Sardina (in towns all over Spain)

This a special ceremony takes place every year at the end of Carnaval. The literal translation is ‘the burial of the sardine’ and happens in honour of Ash Wednesday. It’s a longstanding tradition to which famous painter Goya dedicated a painting. It symbolises a burial of the destruction of the past, which nowadays are the excesses of the carnival. At the end of the ceremony the sardine either gets burned, or barbecued if it’s a real one. After that the real celebration starts, with a lot of food, drinks and sometimes even fireworks. 

12-16th March: International Choir Festival Canta en Primavera

During these days, outstanding choirs from all over the world gather in Malaga. Numerous concerts take place every day in the Cathedral of Malaga and in concert venues. Moreover, many of them are free for everyone to enjoy too. The festival starts with a parade and ends with a concert in the streets. Therefore, this festival is not to miss for music-lovers with a special interest in choir-music. 

20-27th March: Semana Santa

In March, the most important week for the Catholics in Andalusia takes place. This eight days lasting religious festival is celebrated in cities all around Andalusia. The most impressive ones, however, are in Sevilla, Granada and Malaga. We went to have a look behind the screen to see how the city prepares for this grand event. Read all about it in our last blogpost (link).

27th March: Romeria de San Benito in Obejo, Cordoba

Romeria means pilgrimage. The Pilgrimage of a Saint, San Benito, is celebrated during this festival with traditional sword dances. It’s always kept on the Sunday the closest to 24 March.

31th March: Dia dela Vieja in Cuevas de Almanzora, Almeria

This is a day for the entire family. A countryside picnic is kept with local specialties. The celebrated ‘Vieja’ is is paper doll with sweets in her head. After the picnic meal, people get to throw stones at the head of the doll to make the sweets come out. Something like a piñata, but then different. It’s a cosy festival that is kept during the day. 

In April Feria de Abril starts, a month filled with festivities in different cities in Andalusia, don’t miss our next calendar and blogposts dedicated to these amazing events.