Seville Fair. Seville April Fair Seville Fair dates

The city has not yet recovered from the Semana Santa celebration, but the streets of Seville are already preparing for the long-awaited and exciting event: April Feria (Feria de Abril) .

Video - Seville Feria

Fiesta, which celebrates its 172nd birthday this year, is not just another holiday on the city calendar. Over the years it has evolved from a regular trade fair (dedicated to farmers and breeders in the area) to a world famous event; today Seville feria is already an important part of the city and represents a unique opportunity to experience the Andalusian lifestyle and traditions. Plan and experience this incredible event!

What's happened Feria?

Seville Feria was first held in 1864, when two entrepreneurs, Narciso Bonaplata and José Maria de Ibarra (oddly enough, not from Seville) wrote to the city council proposing to hold an agricultural and livestock fair in the city.

First Feria launched on April 18 of the following year and apparently became a huge success; Immediately after this event, traders began to forgive the Council about the large police participation the following year, since people, music and dancing made it difficult to complete transactions.

Over the years, leisure has become the main focus of the event, attracting hundreds of thousands of people looking to have fun each spring. The city is transformed and decorated for the occasion, offering an impressive spectacle to its guests. On the streets you can see traditional dresses, carriages, characteristic floral decorations and flamenco musicians - all this creates a special atmosphere. Fun and excitement await you on every corner (and, of course, in every bar!); In Seville, everyone looks forward to this festive week throughout the year.

When and where?

The unique atmosphere of the Feria can be felt throughout Seville, but the main event area since 1973 is Recinto Ferial, a special space of more than 50 thousand square meters, located across the river near the center, in an area called Los Remedios. If a walk through the old town to enjoy the atmosphere and beauty of the city is highly recommended, then a visit Recinto, where you will feel the whole spirit of the holiday - without fail!

Recinto was designed to accommodate a huge flow of visitors and the ability to accommodate more than a thousand special seats ( casetas), which are essentially the main “scenery” of the entire celebration. These small "establishments" are run by local institutions, organizations or private groups (called penas). Their design is inspired by the traditional stalls where animals were housed during the first ferias. They offer almost continuous performances (traditional music and dance of the Feria), excellent gastronomy and a varied cultural program, thus forming a real “city within a city” with more than a thousand buildings that are located on 15 streets.

Unlike other Andalusian ferius(eg like ), access to casetas is in most cases limited to members of the organizations that manage them or to invited people. If you are unlucky enough to fall into one of these categories, don't worry, you can still enjoy the incredible atmosphere offered by the 16 public casetas scattered throughout the area. You'll have just as much fun as a private one (guaranteed!), and you'll even have the chance to meet some locals who might invite you to a private "establishment."

Depending on the year, the Seville fair begins one or two weeks after the end of Semana Santa. The official start of the celebration is marked by a traditional ceremony Alumbrado: on Sunday, at approximately 22:00, the mayor of the city turns on more than 22,000 lamps in Portada de la Feria(main entrance to the fair). From that moment on, and for the next six days, the city is filled with unbridled joy.

This is a traditional holiday, so it is very easy to feel like just an ordinary spectator. Despite the world fame and incredible hospitality of local residents, Feria is still largely a purely Andalusian festival, so if you want to enjoy this event to the fullest and not just stroll around the area and watch it all happen from afar, here is the most essential information and some useful tips to help you get the most out of life (and this festival) everything:

Dress code

Feria is one of those events for which the entire flamenco outfit was created ( flamenco flamenco). Around Recinto you will see many women wearing it. Trie corto(short jacket, hat and boots) is very popular among men. There is no need to buy such a costume to take part in the celebrations, but it would be a good idea to add an accessory to your outfit to literally “put on” the spirit of Feria: a flower, a man’s hat, a fan or a pair of earrings will do the job, and it will also remain good a souvenir for your memory.

Keep in mind that you will likely be on your feet for many hours at a time (plus dancing if that's your thing), and the floor Recinto made of a kind of yellow sticky sand (called albero, the same one used in the bullring), so choose your shoes accordingly.

In general, there is no specific dress code, but do not forget that this is a very important event for the locals, who will most likely not miss the opportunity to dress up. In addition, if you want to be invited to private casetas You may be asked to dress “appropriately” (for example, no shorts or slippers).

Don't forget: temperatures during the April Fair in Seville can reach significantly high levels.

Food and drink

Of course, gastronomy has its own role during the celebration of the Feria. Starting with the tradition of serving pescaito(fried fish) during the ceremony alumbrado, food and drink symbolize tradition and characterize social moments. All casetas offer you a variety of traditional Andalusian dishes; enjoy and share with your friends (old and new). Don't miss the chance to try rebujito, a typical drink of Feria, a refreshing mixture wine-fino(dry white wine) and lemonade.

When to go

The celebration takes place practically non-stop. You will find people having fun to catchy music at any time of the day or night, both in the center and in Recinto. The most exciting moments are alumbrado, the very beginning of the Feria, and the fireworks show on the last night.

Every day all the entertainment in Recinto start after 14:00, when casetas food and drinks begin to be served after a break of several hours. After 20:00 you will no longer find horses and carriages on the territory of the Feria celebration; crowds of young people usually appear at this time.

Children

Despite the scale of the celebration, the fair is also great for children. Kids will be delighted by the flowers, carriages and atmosphere just as much as adults. You will find a lot of entertainment especially for them in Calle del Infierno, an exhibition complex located next to the main area casetas V Recinto. It offers over 400 venues with a variety of activities, attractions and shows that are ideal for children.

(There is a helpline for lost children. Special cassette, which is called Caseta de Niños Perdidos, located on Calle Gitanillo de Triana, no. 126, telephone number: +34 954 459 189).

Transport

If you don’t want to deal with huge traffic jams and searching for parking (since there are none here), then public transport is at your service. You can take a taxi, metro or bus.

Bus- There is a special service to get to Recinto Ferial. It operates every day from 12:00 to 7:00 am without breaks (ticket price: 1.60 €). It leaves from the bus stop "Prado de San Sebastian", which is next to the city bus station.

You can get to Recinto also using several standard bus routes (which also operate from 12:00 to 7:00): C1, C2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 37, 38A, 41, 52. You can get complete information about routes and prices on the official page of the transport company.

The April Feria is a great opportunity to get to know the beautiful places and traditions of the region, which should not be missed. You can easily reach the Andalusian capital; With all major low-cost airlines providing daily flights from major European cities to the city's airport or neighboring Jerez de la Frontera, you can take the chance to discover all the beauty of authentic Andalusia.

In April, the time comes for the famous Seville Fair, the city plunges into a real extravaganza! The Spaniards walk for a whole week, in a big way and with all their heart. Everyone who loves music, dancing, Andalusian cuisine and good wine is welcome here.

The wonderful spectacular festival of the Seville Fair (La Feria de Abril) takes place two weeks after Holy Week or on Easter week. Almost all residents of the surrounding villages and towns meet at the fair.

First fairs

The first fair was held in Seville in 1847. It was conceived as a market for the sale of livestock. At first, indeed, herds of horses and herds of cows were driven into the city. But gradually, thanks to the cheerful nature of the people of Seville, the fair turned into a holiday with its own traditions.

Seville Fair today

It is customary to wear national costumes at the fair; local residents wear national clothes with pride, as they honor their traditions. It is the national costumes and bright fair tents that make this spectacle motley and colorful.

At the Seville fair you can try excellent local cuisine - chacinas, jamon, Ibérico, lobsters and sausages prepared according to original recipes, as well as the famous Andalusian wine and sweets.

On the last day, the fair ends with festive fireworks around midnight. This joyful, bright show does not leave indifferent any tourist who decides to take part in the national holiday.

Seville is home to the oldest bullring. Of course, the holiday is not complete without a bullfight.

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Poster: Festivals

April Fair in Seville

Seville, 20/04/2015 - 26/04/2015

Every year Seville celebrates La Feria de Abril, or April Fair, with flamenco parties day and night and a rich program of typical Andalusian entertainment. On the south side of the Puente de la Barqueta bridge, which crosses the Río Guadalquivir, is a tent city known as the Real de la Feria. More than 1,000 colorful tents, decorated with garlands and paper lanterns, become temporary shelter for thousands of revelers and are filled with flamenco dancers day and night. Some tents are occupied by individual families, clubs and interest groups. You'll need an invitation to get in, but many others are open to the public - and each has its own bar. Be sure to order a chilled Rebujito, a refreshing cocktail made with dry sherry and Sprite. In the evening, attend one of the flamenco parties, most of which last until 9am. Some Seville residents, or sevillanos, dress in flamenco costume from head to toe and dance all night. Try to learn a couple of dance steps from them. Be sure to take a break to catch the midday Paseo de Caballos, a festive procession of flamenco dancers in fantastic costumes that pass through the city on richly decorated horse-drawn carriages. Every evening there are also some of the best bullfights of the year at the Plaza de Toros de Maestranza de Caballería, known as El Catedral - the Cathedral. Flamenco and bullfighting are Andalusia's most significant cultural traditions, and the April Fair provides a unique opportunity to experience the character and atmosphere of the region.

They come riding camels to bring gifts to the baby Jesus, and on the way they walk through the streets of the city, gather a joyful crowd around them, scatter sweets left and right and look at the fireworks.

Spanish children have an advantage: in addition to gifts from Santa (or Papa Noél, in local) at Christmas, they also receive gifts from the Magi. To earn them, of course, you have to be obedient, write a letter (modern children send emails to the wise men) and on the night of January 6th before going to bed, put a bucket of water near the door for the camels: they still cross the entire desert to they suited you.

Cadiz Carnival (Carnaval de Cadiz)

Where? , Andalusia
When? February 28 - March 10, 2019

Once a year (when exactly is determined by Easter), a small island city in the very south of the country starts a week-long madness. Initially, the holiday had a religious connotation, but today it is rather an excellent reason to take a vacation, dress up, or just.

The main event is a competition of choirs singing chirigotas, topical ditties that throw stones at the government or king. The competition takes place at the Gran Teatro Falla, with participants undergoing strict selection and rehearsing tirelessly throughout the year. At the end of the competition, they all pour out into the streets and continue their performances not for the jury, but for passers-by. You will vigorously twitch to the beat of the tambourine, even if you don’t understand the lyrics.

Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Carnaval de Tenerife)

Where?Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
When? February 24, 2018 - March 10, 2019

Another large-scale carnival takes place at the same time in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Every year the theme of the carnival is determined: from the Middle Ages or Atlantis to space and Hollywood musicals. The theme for 2019 is nautical.

The main celebration lasts from Friday to Wednesday, all this time the streets are buzzing day and night according to a clear schedule. On Friday there is an opening procession, all Saturday is dedicated to dancing, on Monday there is an electronic music festival, then again dancing and processions. On Wednesday, the party closes with a solemn funeral ceremony for the sardine. Nothing unusual: a huge cardboard sardine, accompanied by funeral processions, is carried through the city center and then burned.

One carnival is never enough, so next weekend it all starts again - an afterparty the size of an entire city.

Nothing unusual: a huge cardboard sardine, accompanied by funeral processions, is carried through the city center and then burned.

Los Indianos Festival

Where?Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canary Islands
When? March 4, 2019

The Canary Islands are having fun in a big way. The neighboring island hosts its own carnival, and the Los Indianos festival is a significant part of it. Residents of the city dress in all white, pour out into the streets and start a battle with white powder (this is talc). They sing Cuban songs and cook Cuban food.
In such a non-trivial way they celebrate the return of comrades from Latin America, namely from Cuba. The locals, who went there in search of riches during colonization, found them and brought them home. If the reason for fun seems dubious, watch from the sidelines.

Las Fallas

Where?
When? March 15-19, 2019March 15-19, 2019

The Las Fallas festival resembles a mixture of Maslenitsa and Maslenitsa: it is a celebration of the arrival of spring, which ends with the burning of huge sculptures. No one knows for sure the origin of the festival, but according to the most popular version, it all started with the tradition of local carpenters to burn unnecessary junk after winter: both to welcome spring and to patch up karma with cleansing fire.

Today, teams of enthusiasts create three-dimensional figures almost as tall as a five-story building, depicting prominent political or cultural figures, not without irony. Throughout the festival, the figures are displayed in the central square and the best one is chosen by popular vote - she will be lucky enough to avoid being burned and go to a special museum.

In addition to the competition in the ingenuity of sculptors, Fallas is a festival of fire. The streets are covered with brighter illuminations than Independence Avenue for the New Year, and the fireworks at Nit de Foc (“Night of Fire”), which closes the festival, will be the envy of any City Day.

Las Fallas is a mixture of Maslenitsa and Burning Man.

Holy Week (Semana Santa)

Where? Countrywide
When? April 14-20, 2019

April Fair (Feria de Abril)

Where? Seville, Andalusia
When? May 4 - 11, 2019

Locals confidently say that if you haven’t seen it, you haven’t seen a miracle, and we add that if you haven’t been to the April Feria, you definitely haven’t seen or felt the city. A lively fair happens in the ancient capital of Andalusia every year, and is taken very seriously. Everything is organized like this: colorful pavilions are installed in a specially fenced area, which belong to families, groups of friends or organizations. You can get inside private tents only by invitation of the owners (feel free to ask!), but if that doesn’t work out, don’t despair, there are plenty of public tents too. A motley crowd flows from tent to tent, dances in the street, walks decorously on horseback, demonstrates traditional outfits (hat, floor-length dress, flowers, flounces - everything as it should be). Everyone has a glass of sherry in their hands, and in their eyes there is one hundred percent confidence in their own superiority.

As you may have guessed, the celebration lasts all week, and the exact date is tied to Easter. Therefore, in 2019, the main party of April ironically fell in May. Each day starts with a horse procession, continues with bullfighting (Seville is one of the cities where it is not prohibited), and ends with a grandiose fireworks display.

By the way, in the spring local fairs sweep across the province like a whirlwind. Such extravaganzas may be inferior to the capital’s in scale, but certainly not in soulfulness. Every town and every village is very proud of its own, prepares carefully and has fun like it’s the last time. ¡Óle!

Cordoba Patios Festival

Where? Cordoba, Andalusia
When? May 6 - 19, 2019

Bonfires of Saint John the Baptist (Hogueras de San Juan)

Where? Alicante, Valencian Community
When? June 19-24, 2019

It is said that, noticing how the days began to shorten after the summer solstice, the ancient Spaniards decided to light huge fires to help the sun gain strength. This is how a fiesta appeared, at which the heart of a Belarusian will beat faster: here you will find jumping over a fire, wreaths, and fortune telling for your betrothed. The Spanish Bath is complemented by a mandatory swim in the “healing water of the seven waves of the sea,” but if suddenly there is no sea nearby, then a river will do. Life hack: jump over the fire three times to cleanse yourself of past sins, and throw old furniture there to cleanse yourself even better.

The holiday is celebrated in many cities in the south of the country and is very popular in Catalonia, but San Juan in Alicante is considered the largest. Here, up to 90 fires are lit at the same time, at the foot of which doll figures are placed (an idea clearly borrowed from Las Fallas).

Jump over the fire three times to cleanse yourself of past sins, and throw old furniture there to cleanse yourself even better.

Wine Battle (Batalla del Vino)

The town of Haro in the northern province of Rioja has been arguing with its neighbor over who owns the mountains between them for as long as he can remember. Today, the dispute has taken a non-obvious form: platoons of residents of Aro and a neighboring settlement are dousing themselves in red wine until victory, fortunately the region’s harvests allow this. You can take part in the massacre by adhering to a neutral point of view on the territorial issue. There are no winners, losers or pacifists in a battle, and the rules are extremely simple: get wet yourself and get as many people wet as possible. The first battle is mentioned in 1906, a lot of wine has leaked since then (namely 50-80 thousand liters every year).

Of course, the holiday program includes a solemn mass, a procession of winemakers led by the mayor, and traditional food.

San Fermines

Where? Pamplona, ​​Navarre
When? July 6-14, 2019

The world learned about this fiesta thanks to Hemingway, who was so impressed by the spirit of the holiday that he wrote “The Sun Also Rises.” The main action of San Fermin is tied to bullfighting, and today this matter is controversial even within Spain. Pamplona is one of the cities that sacredly honor the tradition of fighting, so the most famous part of the fiesta program is the encierros (encierros) - running with the bulls through the streets of the city. Over the entire festival week, they take literally a few minutes every day.

On the morning of the day of Saint Fermin (July 6), the patron saint of Pamplona, ​​the central square of the city is filled with people and shaken by loud singing. There is a strict dress code: white top, white bottom and red neckerchief. At noon, the official start of the holiday is announced by a rocket fired from the balcony of the city hall. By the way, the price of renting rooms overlooking the square soars to several hundred euros.

Tomatina (La Tomatina)

Where?Buñol, Valencian Community
When?August 29, 2019

The Tomato Battle takes place every year on the last Wednesday of August in a small town 40 km from Valencia. The turmoil began not so long ago - in 1945 - almost by accident: someone started a fight in the square, and a stall selling vegetables and fruits luckily came to hand. In the 80s, the city authorities took over the organization of Tomatina, and today in the northern region of Extremadura, where, by Spanish standards, ripening tomatoes are not so tasty, tons of vegetables are specially grown for slaughter.

The war lasts exactly an hour, and there are several basic rules:

The tomato massacre cannot begin until someone dexterous climbs up the pole, generously greased with soap, to get a huge piece of jamon;

Before throwing a tomato, it must be crushed so as not to accidentally injure someone;

Once the final siren sounds, no more charges.

After the battle, the town is doused with water from fire truck hoses to wash away the tomatoes from the walls and roads.

By the way, if your child also wants to deliciously charge someone with a tomato, you can send him to participate in the light version of Tomatina for children.

Especially for the battle with tomatoes, tons of vegetables are grown in the region for slaughter.

Horse racing in Sanlucar

Where? Sanlucar de Barrameda, Andalusia
When? August 7, 2019

If tomato grinding isn't your thing, you can head to the southern province of Cadiz, sit on a picturesque beach, watch horses and sunsets, or even chip in a few euros at your bet. In comparison with other fiestas on the list, it may seem “small-town”, but this does not detract from its atmosphere. Of course, it is accompanied by festivities, wine and the southern spirit.

Festival of La Merce (Fiesta de la Merce)

Where ? Barcelona, ​​Catalonia
When? September 21-24, 2019