Málaga Feria

Local Malagueñas enjoying their home town feria. © Michelle Chaplow
Local Malagueñas enjoying their home town feria.
Feria de Malaga 2023 poster
Feria de Malaga poster
Feria de Malaga 2024


Sat 17th Aug - Sat 24th Aug 2024

(confirmed by the Town Hall in Feb)

Malaga Feria

The annual Malaga city fair in August is an exuberant week-long street party with plenty of flamenco and 'fino' (sherry). The fair commemorates the re-conquest of the city by Isabella and Ferdinand in 1487 and traditionally runs for a week from Saturday to Sunday (inclusive) over the third week in August. 

This castanet-clicking fiesta starts off with a bang, literally, with an impressive firework display in the Paseo del Parque which can be seen for miles around. The best view is from the Port area or Muelle Uno or from the rooftop terrace bars of city centre hotels.  The firework display is at midnight on the Friday night before the opening Saturday. This is usually (but not since 2022) followed by a free concert by a top Spanish artist or band on the beach at La Malagueta.

Dancing 'sevillanas' at the Malaga Feria © Michelle Chaplow
Dancing 'sevillanas' at the Malaga Feria

The following day the people take to the streets, the women in flouncy flamenco dresses, to dance, drink and, generally, make merry. The traditional dance of Andalucia is called 'Sevillanas' comprising four distinct dances with plenty of finger-clicking, foot-stomping and, above all, feeling. This is where 'dancing in the street' can be appreciated spontaneously 'en vida' which is really the only way Spanish dancing should be performed.

Millions of people visit the fair, although very few tourists know about this intrinsically Andalusian traditional fiesta which, in Malaga, is two distinct events, in the centre during the day (Feria de Dia - Day fair) up to 18.00 hrs in the city centre and  (Feria de Noche - Night fair) from around 21.00 hrs until dawn in the fairground west of the city centre.

Feria de Dia - Day fair

This city fair is concentrated around Malaga's main shopping street - Calle Marques de Larios (Calle Larios for short) which is decorated with paper lanterns and flags. Millions of people visit the fair, although very few tourists seem to even know about this intrinsically Andalusian traditional fiesta which, in Malaga, is two distinct events, in the centre during the day (Feria de Dia - Day fair) up to 18.00 hrs and at the fairground  (Feria de Noche - Night fair) from around 21.00 hrs until dawn.

Hundreds of people take to the streets of the city’s historic centre, which are beautifully decorated and food, drink and trinket stalls are set up. Shops and businesses close and the classy pedestrian shopping street, Calle Marques de Larios, and surrounding area are transformed for the duration of the celebrations. Soak in the wall-to-wall swishing flamenco dresses, gleaming Andalusian horses, music and spontaneous dancing and you understand something of the Andalusian love of life and ability to party.

 

Feria de Noche - Night Time fair

The Feria de Noche is an immense precinct to the west of the MA-20 by-pass motorway near the Palacio de Congresos building where various associations install their 'casetas' - large huts or booths for entertainment and refreshment, where old and young alike meet up in laughing gossiping circles, surrounded by swirling dancers and waiters rushing around tripping over babies and young children and making sure that everyone is continually topped up with fino and 'tapas'. The casetas are much more open to the public those in Seville. As long as you are dressed (anything from smart casual upwards), ask the dorman politely and you can enter.  The 'Caseta municipal' has a wide range of acts and live music, most are free except for some headline acts..   

The casetas are also where many business deals are struck between local Malagueños who have closed their conventional office for the week. Outside, the fair is a gaudy, raucous fairyland of dazzling lights, deafening music, soaring ferris wheels and careering dodgem cars, an assault on all the senses and incomparable to any 'conventional' fair elsewhere.

Your very own drinking cup for the Malaga Fair and a lovely souvenir. © Michelle Chaplow
Your very own drinking cup for the Malaga Fair and a lovely souvenir.

The typical feria drinks are Malaga Dulce (Malaga sweet) wine and Rebujito ( fino or manzanilla mixed with lemonade or sprite). Typical feria food is Pescaito which is a selection of fried fish from Malaga.   

This festival of light by night is just one aspect of the ‘Feria de Málaga’. The inaugural (Friday) night of the Fair is launched with the traditional‘Pregón de la Feria’ (opening address) read out from the Town Hall balcony. Unusually in 2022 singer María Peláe delivered the Pregón on the Saturday evening before the turning on of the lights. Manuel Bandera, Estrella Morente, Antonio Banderas, Diana Navarro, Julio Iglesias, María Teresa Campos, Pasión Vega and many others have had the honor of the Pregón in previous years. On the Friday strike of midnight starts an awe-inspiring fireworks display. This ‘Big Bang’ is a magnificent show of Malaga’s muscle in the party prowess department and is best appreciated from Malaga Port and Muelle Uno, where thousands gather vying for a privileged view of this magical scene. This is usually (not in 2022) followed by a free concert by a top Spanish artist or band on the beach at La Malagueta.

By night the place to be is the Feria de Noche at the big purpose built Fair Ground also called 'El Real', set just on the edge of the city, west of the MA-20 near the Palacio de Congresos. There are shuttle buses laid on from the Alameda in centre of the city. The Cercanias train station 'Victoria Kent' is the nearest. From around 21.00 hrs  till dawn this massive purpose built fiesta area vibrates with life. Here, 21 st century technology mingles with old Andalusian traditions. From fairground rides, to live music and dancing and endless food, drink and entertainment, the choice is vast. If you do nothing other than people-watch. You will enjoy a sense of theatre when you see the stunning elegance and beauty of some of the women and men milling around or dancing traditional Sevillanas, till dawn. However the number of people wearing traditional dress is slowly diminishing over the years, cost and heat are cited as the reasons. 

Flowers and fans are a must at Malaga Feria. © Michelle Chaplow
Flowers and fans are a must at Malaga Feria.

History of the malaga feria

The Feria celebrations date back to 1487, when Los Reyes Católicos, Isabella and Ferdinand re-conquered the city. Over time, it has evolved into a huge event and it has two distinct facets – day and night. ‘La Feria de día’ warms up around midday. Restaurant and bars are full and spill over into the street. Bands play free concerts in the little squares of the city centre. Head for Calle Larios and follow the crowds. This Feria de dia officially finishes at 18.00 hrs  This finishing time is earlier than some years ago and is now strictly observed by bars who turn off the music. The feria goers and in particular the younger prefer to hang around and finish their drinks. The street cleaners and their hose pipes arrive in force and mark the real end to the Feria de dia.  

The third part of the Malaga Feria is the bullfights in the city’s bullring at La Malagueta.

The Malaga skies are adorned with decorations. © Michelle Chaplow
The Malaga skies are adorned with decorations
 

Other fairs in Andalucia

'Faralae' dresses are typical of Malaga Feria.
'Faralae' dresses are typical of Malaga Feria.

The Andalusian feria is also celebrated in the majority of towns and even villages at some time between Spring and Autumn and for the locals means far more than a holiday from work. They are the very reason and justification for the year, occasions to be immersed in with passion and commitment. Some, like Malaga, Cordoba and, particularly Seville are rich and glittering affairs attracting millions of visitors while others, such as the feria of the village of Casares is a far smaller version; an exuberant street party where everyone knows everyone and relatives who have moved away return to join their families in the all familiar annual celebration.

There is also rivalry between the two main Andalusian cities, Seville and Malaga – especially when it comes to festivities. In April, Seville boasts the illumination of 200,000 lights with about 25.000 in the Portada (2022) for the inauguration of the town’s massive annual fair. It used to be more in 2004 it was reported that Seville and Malaga nearly hit the half million mark. It slowed down in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The introduction of diode lights have made the light bulb count a little irrelevant.  Malaga is the largest 'Summer fair' in Spain excluding Seville's 'Spring Fair'.  

 

Book city centre hotels in Malaga

Eurostars Málaga

Situated next to Malaga Train Station, the stylish Hotel Eurostars Málaga offers free WiFi throughout the property. All air-conditioned rooms at Hotel Eurostars Málaga feature wooden floors. They include a flat-screen TV and the private bathroom comes with a hairdryer.

Sercotel Tribuna Málaga

This cozy hotel in the historic center of Málaga is opposite the famous Tribuna de los Pobres, where the city’s Easter celebrations take place. It offers free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour reception. Air-conditioned rooms feature satellite TV, a safe and minibar. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer. Some rooms offer city views.

NH Málaga

Set in the historic centre of Malaga, NH Málaga is 800 metres from Malaga Cathedral and the Picasso Museum. It offers free Wi-Fi and a gym. Rooms at NH Málaga are soundproofed, with a pillow menu and parquet floors. They all include air conditioning, a minibar, satellite TV and a safe.

Hotel Don Curro

With the Picasso Museum and Málaga Cathedral within 5 minutes’ walk, Don Curro provides an ideal base to visit Malaga. It offers smart rooms with free Wi-Fi and international TV channels. The air-conditioned rooms at the Don Curro feature contemporary furnishings and pastel colours. They all include a minibar and en suite bathrooms with a hairdryer.

Eurostars Astoria

Eurostars Astoria has an ideal setting in the centre of Málaga, 10 minutes’ walk from the Picasso Museum and 1 km from the beach. It offers free Wi-Fi internet access.

Rooms at the hotel are decorated in neutral tones and are equipped with air conditioning. They all feature a private bathroom.

Zenit Málaga

Zenit Málaga is 20 minutes’ walk from the centre of the city. It offers soundproofed rooms with free Wi-Fi, a pillow menu and satellite TV. All accommodation at Zenit Málaga has modern décor and air conditioning. The marble bathroom includes toiletries and a hairdryer.

H-A Hotel Trebol

Enjoying a privileged location right in the heart of Málaga, this modern townhouse lies just off the famous main street near of Calle Marques de Larios. The Trebol occupies a new building surrounded by the city’s main shopping district. It is also set a short distance from the most popular tourist sites of this Andalusian city – the Cathedral, Picasso Museum and birthplace, the Alcazaba and the port are all within 500 metres.

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