The fairs and festivals celebrated both in Malaga and in the various towns across the province are one of the main attractions of the Costa del Sol in summer. Each one of them allows the visitor to enjoy the three most treasured values of Malaga: its friendly people, its cuisine and its cultural heritage.
Fairs and festivals in Malaga
One of the most important celebrations is the Festival "Moors and Christians" that takes place in a number of towns in the Costa del Sol and which represents the Christian reconquest of the Kingdom of Granada. Among the most recommendable are those that take place in Benalauría and Benadalid (the first and last weekend of August, respectively) and Alfarnate (mid September).
One of the most popular fairs is the Málaga Fair, celebrated mid August, which attracts visitors from all over the world who flock to the city centre during the "day fair". After the Feria de Malaga, with summer over, comes the Nerja Fair, the Rosario de Fuengirola Fair and the Torremolinos fair, which also attract a great number of visitors. If you're interested in this type of traditional festival, we recommend you check when they take place in our section Fairs & Festivals and plan your visit to the Costa del Sol to coincide with one of them.
It's also worth mentioning festivals related to flamenco, a musical genre that can be heard in any event celebrated in Málaga. As the flamenco festival par excellence, we should highlight the "verdiales" festivals and contests that take place in the varying towns of the Province or the Cante Grande Festival , celebrated in Casabermeja in the last days of July, one of the towns in Málaga with the strongest flamenco tradition. Another notable flamenco festival is that of Torre del Cante, which takes place once a year in Alhaurín de la Torre, the last Saturday before the day of San Juan.
Gastronomic fairs and festivals
Fairs and festivals related to gastronomy tend to be organised on specific days, where each day usually corresponds to a typical dish or product from the region. These include festivals such as the ‘Día de la Almendra’ (Almond Day), in Almogía on the last Sunday of September, the ‘Día de la morcilla’ (Black Pudding Day), in Canillas de Aceituno the last Sunday of April, and the ‘Día de la Uva Moscatel’ (Moscatel Grape Day), in Iznate in mid August. Other festivals are themed on a particular dish or recipe, such as the ‘Gazpacho Festival’ in Alfarnatejo on the 1st of August. Or the ‘Ajo blanco’ (a white variation on gazpacho) festival in Almáchar, on the first Saturday of September.
We also draw your attention to another type of event within this group, the fairs of the various towns. Here culture and gastronomy blend with the kindness and joy of the people of Málaga.
If you are one of those who like to enjoy your holiday destination by getting to know the customs, cuisine and people of the region, then the various festivals and fairs of the Costa del Sol will certainly make your stay unforgettable.
