10 Popular Festivals In Spain

festivals in spain
Melanie
Melanie 
Updated
| 5 min read

From fiestas to flamenco to fantastic food, Spain is the place to be and be seen when it comes to the best festivals in the world. The list of amazing things to see, do, and enjoy in Spain is endless. From fabulous beaches, sunny climate to friendly people, this place rules when it comes to celebrating life to the max in a city that always shines. Roar like a bull at the infamous bullfights or sip fine wines at the many wine bars and dance the night away at the all-night parties that dot the city during the festivities. Another must-do is to tuck into famous Spanish cuisine that range from chorizo, paella, gazpacho, to tortilla and more. The top holiday villas and adults-only hotels in Spain are jampacked during the festival seasons. Hungry to know more? Simply scroll down to check out the most popular festivals in Spain, where the finest of food, traditions, and friendship are celebrated.

1. La Tomatina

Bunyol Town Square
Source: Photo by Flickr user flyheatherfly used under CC BY 2.0

Welcome to La Tomatina, the one and only tomato-throwing festival in the world. It’s a sea of red when tomato juice and plump juicy tomatoes are splashed everywhere at this fun festival that takes place annually in the Valencian town of Buñol, in the East of Spain. Located 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from the Mediterranean and about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Valencia by road, this town comes alive when people all over the world converge to get into a tomato fight with 120 tonnes of tomatoes as ammunition. Every year, this famous Spanish festival attracts about 22,000 participants and the battle begins as soon as truckloads of tomatoes come into town. Touted to be one of the most intense and exciting festivals in Spain, it’s one celebration not to be missed.

La Tomatina

Address: Buñol 46360, Valencia, Spain

Website: La Tomatina

Takes place: Last Wednesday of August

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2. Feria De Abril

Feria de abril 2016 02
Source: Photo by user Marsan used under CC BY-SA 4.0

A celebration of heritage, Easter joy, and fireworks happens at Feria de Abril or Seville April Fair, as popularly known by non-natives. An annual festival that takes place after Easter Holy Week, Feria de Abril is one of the city’s biggest fiestas that’s filled with flamenco music and dance plus cuisine from all over Spain. Discover plenty of local dry sherry and beer to be enjoyed with friends and family. Explore funfair games and a wide variety of local merchandise for festival shoppers. This celebration in Spain ends with a spectacular fireworks display over the Guadalquivir River.

Feria De Abril

Address: Seville, Andalucia, Spain

Website: Feria De Abril

Takes place: May

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3. Las Fallas

Las Fallas Spain Valencia
Source: Photo by Flickr user keith ellwood used under CC BY 2.0

Be prepared for a festivity that combines tradition, satire, and art at Las Fallas, a traditional celebration that commemorates Saint Joseph in the wonderful city of Valencia, Spain. The name itself refers to the celebration as well as monuments built and burnt during the festival. With plenty of things to see and do, visitors will be thrilled by the variety of traditional and contemporary music, emotive religious acts, dance performances, street food and drinks, and fireworks displays. Not to be missed is the beautiful parade through the city which ends with a bonfire of festivities where monuments are reduced to ashes.

Las Fallas

Address: Valencia, Spain

Website: Las Fallas

Takes place: March 15 to 19

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4. Feria De Málaga

Feria de Malaga Spain
Source: Photo by user Itelchan used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Experience one of the most important Andalucian summer fairs with origins dating back to the 15th century at Feria De Málaga or popularly known as Malaga Fair. The start of the celebrations is marked by a stunning fireworks show at midnight, with the best views from the port of Malaga. The week-long cosmopolitan festival attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its outstanding musical concerts featuring local and international artistes, numerous booths with a variety of festive activities, and countless attractions. The festival highlight is the bullring where bullfights take place amidst the cheers of enthusiasts.

Feria De Málaga

Address: Cortijo de Torres, Valencia, Spain

Website: Feria De Málaga

Takes place: August

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Spain Tour Guide

Asier Garmendia

Asier Garmendia

Hi! I’m Asier, welcome to Granada, the most wonderful and charming city in the world. I am a licensed tour guide, with a degree in Art History and specialized in the Alhambra. Let me show you as a local our traditions, food and heritage. The city of the Alhambra will not disappoint you !. Please don`t hesitate to contact me for private and flexible tours. My job is my passion!

Tours by Asier

5. Suma Flamenca Madrid

Presentación de la XII edición de Suma Flamenca
Source: Photo by user Cristina Cifuentes used under CC BY 2.0

Known as one of the most important flamenco festivals worldwide, Suma Flamenca Madrid is a celebration of the infamous flamenco music and dance with guitar-playing of the finest kind. Festival highlights include performances by talented flamenco artists and young musicians skilled in flamenco guitar playing. Look out for innovative and classic artistes, young newcomers, and veterans in flamenco who take pride in their nation’s heritage. Many performances will take place at various venues with Teatros del Canal as the focal point.

Suma Flamenca Madrid

Address: Teatros del Canal, Calle de Cea Bermúdez, 1, 28003 Madrid, Spain

Website: Suma Flamenca Madrid

Takes place: October to November

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6. San Fermin

Sanfermines-vaquillas
Source: Photo by user Francisco83pv used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Get high on adrenaline at the Running of the Bulls festival or San Fermin that takes place in Pamplona annually and attracts mad thrill-seekers from the world over. Nothing short of exhilarating and invigorating, this famous event in Spain ups the ante each year with more and more people attracted to the game of running with ferocious bulls. Whether you’re a participant or just a mere spectator from high-rise balconies, San Fermin delights all with an amazing opening and closing ceremony that captures the spirit of Pamplona in a sea of red flags. Plenty of food, drinks, and treats along the streets, as well as self-guided tours of the city, are some of its highlights.

San Fermin

Address: Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

Website: San Fermin

Takes place: July

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7. Carnival

Carnival parade along Las Canteras town beach 2015 - 3
Source: Photo by user Tamara Kulikova used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Herald the oldest carnival celebration on mainland Spain with Carnival taking place in Cadiz, the big city on Andalucia’s Atlantic coast. With origins dating back to the 16th century, the festival comes together in a riot of colours, floats, parades, music, processions, performances, fireworks, entertainment, and activities aplenty. Get ready for the city’s biggest street party with shopping carnivals, exciting shows, and Spanish street food and drinks galore. In fact, a festival queen is selected to grace the occasion and visitors are feted to plenty of witty and comedic carnival events.

Carnival

Address: Cadiz, Spain

Website: Carnival

Takes place: February or March

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8. Benicassim Festival

Festival Internacional de Benicàssim 2016
Source: Photo by user ÒscarGarciaHerraiz used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Dance to the rhythm of the night at the annual Benicassim Festival held in the town of Benicassim in the Valencian community. What visitors expect is a world of musical influences from pop to rock to electronica, all from local and international artistes. What fans love is the festive atmosphere and dazzling array of entertainment with short film features, fashion shows, and art expos. Best of all, the musical explosion takes place by the beach where the surf, sea, and sand set the perfect ambience for catching the latest tunes that give flight to the imagination. Here is where musicians come together to rock out at one of the finest seaside spots in Spain.

Benicassim Festival

Address: Benicàssim 12560, Castellón, Spain

Website: Benicassim Festival

Takes place: July

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9. Haro Wine Festival

Batalla del Vino - Haro - La Rioja
Source: Photo by user BigSus used under CC BY 2.5

Get ready for the finest wine battle festival in Spain at the Haro Wine Festival held at the La Rioja region of northern Spain. Be prepared to get messy, hot, sticky, and drenched in wine from top to toe as the wine battle ensues. Held around Saint Peter’s Day every year, the population of the central Rioja town of Haro doubles with festival-goers present to engage in wine warfare. Here, participants dress in traditional red-and-white attire and get set to battle. Following a procession and short mass, the wine carnage begins with wine being splashed from buckets, jugs, bottles, receptacles of every kind, and even water guns. After all, Haro is known for their red Rioja wine and great tasting bodegas.

Haro Wine Festival

Address: Haro 26200, La Rioja, Spain

Website: Haro Wine Festival

Takes place: June

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10. Madrid Pride Week

Madrid Pride Orgullo 2015 58336 (19338484951)
Source: Photo by user tedeytan used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Experience the largest gay parade in Spain and one of Europe’s biggest parades with thousands of local and international visitors, making this festival one of a kind. Discover one of the world’s largest celebrations of diversity with all week-long musical concerts, dance performances, street entertainment, food and beverage stalls, cool parties, and more. Better yet, there are family-friendly activities for families with kids to enjoy the festivities. Held in the Chueca neighbourhood in the centre of Madrid, this festival offers an opportunity to better understand the LGBT community in Spain and all over the world.

Madrid Pride Week

Address: Chueca 28004 Madrid, Spain

Website: Madrid Pride Week

Takes place: June to July

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Get out and about in Spain by exploring its festivals

One of the best ways to explore Spain is to attend the many bizarre yet brilliant festivals taking place in various cities in Spain. Be guided on their heritage trails, sample all the best delicacies, and enjoy many memorable moments. When the music amplifies, put on your best dancing shoes and follow the crowds to the best parties in town. After all, you only live once.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Meet Melanie, a budding wordsmith and a full-time Trip101 writer with a penchant for weaving tales that transport readers to far-off lands. With five years of jet-setting experience as a travel...Read more

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