Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen
On July 16th, every fishing village and coastal town in Spain honours the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen and sailors. Statues of the Virgin are carried in procession to the sea and placed on decorated boats for a maritime parade — one of Spain's most photogenic summer traditions.
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August
Feria de Málaga
Feria de Málaga is the city’s major August fair, combining daytime celebrations in the historic center with nighttime festivities at the fairground (Real de la Feria).
May
Cruces de Mayo de Granada
On May 3rd, Granada's plazas and streets fill with giant crosses lavishly decorated with flowers, surrounded by makeshift bars, flamenco music, and the aroma of free tapas. Neighbourhoods compete for the most beautiful cross in one of Andalusia's most joyful spring celebrations.
September
Fiesta del Cascamorras
The Fiesta del Cascamorras is one of Spain's most extraordinary and bizarre festivals. Every 6 September, a man covered in black grease (the Cascamorras) attempts to run from the town of Guadix to Baza to reclaim a statue of the Virgin of Piedad — while thousands of equally grease-covered locals try to stop him. The result is a spectacular, chaotic, oil-black mass of humanity. Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, it's an ancient rivalry turned into joyful, slippery mayhem.
Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar
Since 1845, English-style horse races along the shore at low tide. Two three-day cycles in August with Doñana National Park as backdrop.