Every summer, Málaga gets all dressed up for the August Fair. The so-called Semana Grande (Big Festive Week) of the Costa del Sol is a great time to explore and enjoy the city’s customs, traditions and culture. Get seduced by the Andalusian air of this fiesta, wrapped in the joy and kindness of local people. The Málaga Fair begins in mid-August with a touching opening speech and a show with music and fireworks. Then it goes on for nine days, taking the Historic District and Cortijo de Torres by storm.
Fair in central Málaga
From Calle Larios to Plaza de la Merced, Málaga gets dressed with ornaments and lamps to illuminate the Day Fair. No corner in the old town is spared. Go tapas, drink the wines of the land and get ready to shake your body wherever you are.
The bands of verdiales are the most traditional number in a festival where folk music and contemporary sounds blend. If you are in for flamenco, the Juan Breva flamenco club is a good place to visit. After dark, merrymakers move to bars, pubs and the kiosks in the town centre.
The August Fair includes the International Music and Dance Festival, vibrant parades, an artisan market, children’s shows and bullfighting at La Malagueta Bullring.
Fair at El Real
In the evening, the Fair’s nerve centre is Cortijo de Torres, where there’s activity all day long. About 180 kiosks offer traditional food, and there are customary activities like horse and horse-drawn carriage parades.
Get on the amusement rides, try your luck at the raffles or attend the great live shows held for free: Noche de la Copla, Ciudad de Málaga Flamenco Festival and concerts by top music stars.
Five-century history
The most important religious event during the August Fair is the flower offering to Our Lady of Victories, a heartfelt ceremony accompanied by a parade with horsemen and carriages. The image of Málaga’s Patroness was given to the city by the Catholic Monarch after it was conquered by the Christian troops in 1487. This is the origin of Málaga’s Semana Grande in August.
