Events Diary

EVENTS DIARY                                      Also see our Event Calender !

In Spain there is a strong historical tradition of festivals and they give us an insight into the richness and diversity of Spanish culture. Their origins usually lie in religious feasts, often honouring a patron saint. They symbolise the very essence of Spain and the Spanish people. They’re exuberant, fun, uninhibited, noisy, colourful and vibrant – and one thing’s for certain: when it’s fiesta time, no-one does it better than the Spanish!  

Here, we have briefly outlined the main Fiestas in Almuñécar that occur throughout the year. For more details please see our Events Calendar closer to the dates of individual events. 

JANUARY 

1^st New Years Day - Año Nuevo:

This is sometimes called El Día de la Resaca (Day of the Hangover), this is a public holiday. 

6^th Epiphany or 12th Night - Three Kings Day - Día de los Reyes:

This is when the Spanish traditionally give their gifts. For Spanish children this is the most important day of the year when they wake up to find that Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings) have left gifts for them in their house. On the evening of the 5th, processions of the Three Kings are held and sweets are thrown to the children who follow the Kings. 

20^th The Feast of St Sebastian the Martyr – Fiestas de San Sebastián Mártir

The neighbourhood of San Sebastián commemorates its patron saint. There are three days of celebrations with music, dance, food and drink culminating in a final procession with fireworks and a lively party. 
 

FEBRUARY 

21^st Carnival - Carnaval

This festival is celebrated the three days before Ash Wednesday, with fancy dress parades, masks, music and funfairs etc. Festivities officially culminate with the Burying of the Sardine´´ on the beach! 

28^th Andalusia Day - Día de Andalucía

This is a public holiday in Andalusia which marks the anniversary of the recognition of Andalusia as an autonomous community in 1981. There is usually a concert in the Majuelo Park. 
 

MARCH 

12th – 19^th Las Fallas

This week of festivals culminates in the burning of the Fallas at midnight on March 19^th. The Fallas are, traditionally, huge figure made of wood, cardboard, paper and cloth, depicting particular targets of ridicule. 

19^th St Joseph's Day - Día de San José

This is a Fiesta to honour the Patron Saint of La Herradura.  After the week-long fair there is a religious procession around the Old Town, the paseo bars and on the sea front, with fireworks on the beach in the evening.  
 

APRIL  

2^nd - 4^th Easter Week - Semana Santa

Semana Santa Fiestas celebrate Holy Week in the religious calendar. There are spectacular, colourful, atmospheric and moving processions throughout the week, as well as plenty of music, dancing, eating, and of course, fireworks. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are national holidays. 
 

MAY 

1^st Labour Day - Día del Trabajo

Public holiday in all Spain and of course also celebrated throughout much of the world in support of the worker. 

3^rd Day of the Cross (Día de la Cruz)

This celebration involves a competition for the youngsters for the best “Cruz de Flores”. It is very common to find a pair of scissors driven into an apple! This symbol mixes the religiousness of the celebration with old superstitions protecting people from the evil eye or bad words. Children ask passers-by for money for their cross. Again there are also parties around Town and there is a colourful and lively atmosphere. 

JUNE 

5^th – 7^th Feria Gastronómica - Gastronomic Fair

This is held in the Majuelo park and local restaurants & bars offer samples of their best food and you can taste small portions from each menu. In the evening and there's also live music.  

11^th Corpus Christi

This is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity and is intended to celebrate the presence of the body of Christ in the Holy Communion wafer. In Almuñécar the procession is held on the following Sunday. Aromatic herbs and flowers are scattered on the streets and people hang beautiful blankets or shawls from the balconies.  

24^th Día de San Juan - St John's Day

Celebrating the start of summer solstice, it is the only night of the year when people are allowed to camp out on the beaches. Tents are set up, bonfires lit along the beaches and families and friends gather together with food, drink and music. At midnight everyone goes to the sea - traditionally to jump in and so cleanse oneself of sin! – but most of us just rinse our faces in the sea water.  
 

JULY 

16^th Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen - Day of the Virgin Carmen

This festival is to honour the Virgen del Carmen, the protectress of fishermen, in all coastal towns including Almuñécar and La Herradura. At nightfall there is a procession around the streets and then the Virgin is taken out to sea on a boat. There is also a stunning firework display that lights up the sky over the sea. 
 

18^th – 25^th Jazz Festival - Jazz en la Costa

Every year Almuñécar hosts an open air jazz festival staring around 23:00 every evening in Majuelo Park, which inlcudes some of the great names in Jazz. This is a fantastic event and very atmospheric with the floodlit castle in the background.  

27^th - 31^st Flamenco Festival

This lively and popular festival lasts for five days and is held in the Majuelo Park, usually starting around 10pm. 
 

AUGUST 

15^th Fiesta de la Virgen de la Antigua  

This is a Festival in honour of Almuñécar’s patron la Virgen de la Antigua and is also the Day of the Assumption in the Catholic calendar which celebrates the taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life. This feast day has been celebrated in Almuñécar since 1569!! During the week beforehand, there are concerts, fair ground attractions, dances, sports events, music and a firework display all leading up to the 15th. On the 15^th the Virgen is honoured by a procession, a trip out to sea, and a spectacular firework display, before being taken back to her home in the Encarnación church. 
 

SEPTEMBER 

29^th Fiesta de San Miguel - Fiesta of St Michael

This is held in the San Miguel district, the old part of town near the castle. The festivities last for three days, ending on the 29^th, and include a party for the children at the castle, procession of the Archangel (Arcángel), street parties and fireworks. The Almuñécar tourist board contribute sangríia as the festivities coincide with “International Tourism Day”. 
 

OCTOBER 

12^th National Day -  Día de la Hispanidad - Columbus Day / Fiesta de la Chirimoya – Feast of the Custard Apple / Fiesta de Virgen de Pilar ....

... are just some of the names given to this important day in the local and national calendar. 

In terms of the National Day, this date commemorates the discovery of America and is celebrated by all Hispanic nations. It is a national holiday throughout Spain. Locally, it   signifies the start of the chirimoya harvest and festivities are based under the arches of the Roman aqueduct in Torrecuevas. Events are spread out over about a week with the culmination of celebrations always occurring on the 12^th. There are parties, competitions, food tasting and of course the spectacular procession and firework display in the evening.  
 

NOVEMBER 

1^st Todos los Santos - All Saints' Day, sometimes called the Day of the Dead

This is a date in the religious calendar when Catholics celebrate God and all His saints. Cemeteries are decorated and loved ones remembered. It is a national holiday. 

23^rd – 28^th Andres Segovia International Guitar Competition

This is held in neighbouring in La Herradura.  The object of this competition, open to all concert performers, is to promote the appreciation and study of the guitar, and also to honour the memory of Don Andrés Segovia y Torres, adoptive son of Almuñécar and La Herradura. 
 

DECEMBER 

6^th Day of the Spanish Constitution

This day is a commemoration of Spain's democratic constitution which was adopted in December, 1978. It is a national holiday in all Spain. Schools and businesses throughout Spain will often bridge the holiday ("Puente" day) and close completely until 9th Dec, after the Day of the Immaculate Conception on the 8^th. 

8^th Día de La Immaculada Concepción - Day of the Immaculate Conception

The immaculate conception of Jesus Christ is celebrated on this day. It is a public holiday. 

24^th Nochebuena - Christmas Eve

Called ‘Goodnight’, this is an evening when families gather and enjoy a meal together. Most businesses close early and do not open again in the evening, although it is not officially a public holiday.   

25^th Día de Navidad - Christmas Day

Christmas Day is a national holiday in Spain so shops are closed but, as their main celebration is on 6^th January (King’s Day), this is not a day of great festivity but rather a calm day when people go out for a walk or perhaps go for a drink. Again, there is usually a meal with the family, quite often out in restaurants. There are various Nativity scenes on display in different parts of town and there’s also a Nativity Play in Majuelo Park.  

Note - Boxing Day doesn’t exist in Spain so the 26^th is not a public holiday. 

31^st Noche Vieja - New Year's Eve