June 18, 2024
Last updated on June 25, 2024
The Feria de San Juan is about to start!! The streets of Arroyo de la Miel are about to catch fire – bonfires – on June 23, when Juas will be burning on the streets, followed by fire(works) in the skies from the beach! Yes, it is the Feria of San Juan in Arroyo de la Miel, one of the most expected events of our calendar, that will happen in 2024 from June 23 to June 30 (despite the program cover being more modest and stating it goes from June 24 to June 29)!
Benalmadena has two Ferias (fairs) every year: on in Arroyo de la Miel, the city center, that is dedicated to the patron saint of this neighborhood – San Juan – in June, and one in August, in Benalmadena Pueblo, dedicated to the Virgen de la Cruz. Therefore, the Feria de San Juan happens almost exclusively within the Arroyo de la Miel – the only exception are the beach fireworks.
Table of Contents
Benalmadena’s Town Hall has recently published the program of the Feria de San Juan, in Spanish. You’ll find below the translation of the program and the locations of the main events, as well as pages from the original program itself. Don’t forget to bookmark this page so you can access it easily on the days of the feria 😉 Clicking on the topics and dates you are interested in the table of contents (above) takes you directly to that spot of the post. 😉
Directions to the main locations of the Feria de San Juan
This year’s Feria de San Juan events will have three main locations within Arroyo de La Miel:
Plaza de Pueblosol
The Plaza de Pueblosol is a large square close to the Train Station. It will host the Feria de Día (daytime fair or, more precisely, the events of the Feria de San Juan scheduled for daytime), which will happen from June 24 to June 30, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Several music groups will play there. If it is anything like last year, there will be a tent with a lot of people dancing and having fun – but beware; it was super hot.
A few pictures of Plaza Pueblosol on the eve of the start of the Feria de San Juan 2024:
Looks a lot better than last year, when the tent was closed on the sides. Like this, I think the air will circulate a lot better. Great improvement!
Plaza de la Mezquita
The Plaza de la Mezquita is smaller than Pueblosol, but it has a stage and several pubs. It is close to Avenida de la Constitución, the main avenue of Arroyo de la Miel, and will host events that the 2024’s program of the Feria de San Juan is calling Feria de Centro (Center fair). These will be mostly dance shows happening in the evening.
Recinto Ferial La Paloma
The main fairground is the Recinto Ferial La Paloma (La Paloma fairgrounds). This area will host the funfair and the Feria de Noche (nighttime events); it is also where we find the Municipal Auditorium, the Municipal Booth and the Youth Booth – these last two, tents put in place for the Feria de San Juan.
Program of the Feria de San Juan, Arroyo de la Miel
Sunday, June 23 – San Juan (Saint John’s) eve
Beginning of the visit of the jury of the júas, streets and balconies Fair 2024’s contests
7:00 pm – Streets of Arroyo de la Miel-Benalmádena.
Verbena Hermandad del Rocío and Redemption Brotherhood
7:00 pm at Calle Parra
Live performances by local academies and groups and face painting.
Stands with popular prices and sardine dishes.
>> A verbena is a popular party in an open space, with dances and live music. 😉
Below, a few pictures of the Verbena, which gathered a lot of people. Popular, right?
Special fair illumination lighting
10:00 pm at Plaza de la Autonomía (corner of Calle Blas Infante).
Lighting carried out by the Mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, Queens and Knights of the San Juan Festival and other Authorities.
Performance by the Arroyo de la Miel Municipal Dance School.
Teacher: Toñi López
Burning of the Traditional Júas
Midnight in the streets of Arroyo de la Miel-Benalmádena.
>> Júas (Judas) are full size dolls that originally represented the biblical traitor of Jesus; currently, the dolls can represent anything or anyone seen negatively – unpopular politicians, famous movie villains, inflation, etc.
Musical Pyro Show Castle of Fireworks
01:00 am at the beach by Bil Bil Castle
Monday, June 24
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Por Derecho and Kalima.
Solemn Mass in Honor of Our Patron Saint John the Baptist
6:30 pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Arroyo de la Miel.
Organized by: Brotherhood of Nuestra Señora del Rocío, Inmaculada Concepción and San Juan Bautista de Arroyo de la Miel.
Procession of Our Patron Saint John the Baptist
7:30 pm
Itinerary: Church of the Immaculate Conception, Calle Vicente Alexandre, Calle San Juan, Calle Las Flores to Sierramar, Calle Sierra Mar to Velarde, C/ Velarde to C/ Benalmádena, Calle Correos, Calle Vicente Alexandre and back to the Church.
With the Municipal Music Band of Benalmádena.
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Rock Night at the Municipal Auditorium
From 10:00 pm to 2:00 am
“Sentido” at the Youth Booth
From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
At the Municipal Booth:
10:00 pm – Dance and fun with the Kalima Orchestra.
10:45 pm – Inauguration of the Municipal Booth
Once the procession of San Juan Bautista is over, the Municipal Booth will be inaugurated by the Mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara.
11:00 pm – Municipal Booth’s welcome drinks offered by Veneciadores S.L.
Midnight – Star performance by Las Carlotas
From 01:30 am to 03:30 am – Group El Callejón
From 03:30 am to 05:00 am – DJ René Martin
A few more images of the first night:
Tuesday, June 25
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Alboreá and Álvaro Rock.
Center Fair at the Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by the Benalmádena Fibromyalgia Association
9:40 pm – Performance by the Espacio Flamenco Virginia Martín
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Dance and fun with the Esencia Orchestra at the Municipal Booth.
From 9:30 pm
“Sentido” at the Youth Booth
From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
Rock groups at the Municipal Auditorium
From 10:30 pm to 2:00 am
At the Municipal Booth:
Midnight – Chanel star performance
From 01:30 am to 03:30 am – Dance and fun until dawn with Electroduendes
From 03:30 am to 05:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ Eldrian
Wednesday, June 26
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Querencia and Tributo a Estopa
Center Fair at the Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by Rosa Rincón Academy
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Dance and fun with the Kalima Orchestra at the Municipal Booth.
From 9:30 pm
“Sentido” at the Youth Booth
From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
Rap groups at the Municipal Auditorium
From 10:30 pm to 2:00 am
At the Municipal Booth:
Midnight – Flowtiago and Joana Santos star performances
From 02:00 am to 05:00 am – Dance and fun until dawn with DJ Robert Morr
Thursday, June 27
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Esencia and Kalima
Center Fair at the Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by Sports Club Salmebacha
9:30 pm – Performance by Danzamanía Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Dance and fun with the Alboreá Orchestra at the Municipal Booth.
From 9:30 pm
“Sentido” at the Youth Booth
From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
At the Municipal Booth:
Midnight – Jaime Urrutia de Gabinete Galigari star performance
From 01:30 am to 03:30 am – Dance and fun with Señor Mirinda
From 03:30 am to 05:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ Eldrian
Friday, June 28
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Alboreá and Kalima
Center Fair at the Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by Mariluz Márquez Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Dance and fun with the Alboreá Orchestra at the Municipal Booth.
From 9:30 pm
“Sentido” at the Youth Booth
From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
At the Municipal Booth:
Midnight – Ana Guerra star performance
From 01:30 am to 03:30 am – Dance and fun with QGain
From 03:30 am to 05:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ Eldrian
Saturday, June 29
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Por Derecho and Kalima
Center Fair at the Plaza de la Mezquita
8:30 pm – Performance by La Sultana Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Prizes for the júas, streets and balconies Fair 2024’s contests at the Municipal Booth.
From 9:30 pm
“Sentido” at the Youth Booth
From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
At the Municipal Booth:
10 pm – Dance and fun with Querencia Orchestra
Midnight – Macaco star performance
From 01:30 am to 03:30 am – Dance and fun with Pop FM
From 03:30 am to 05:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ René Martin
Saturday, June 30
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Trenzao and Alboreá
Center Fair at the Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by Carmen Beltrán Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair – La Paloma Fairgrounds:
Día del Niño (Kid’s Day)
From 7:00 pm to 02:00 am
Noiseless time: from 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm
Children’s and youth attractions at popular prices
>> I believe they mean the mechanical attractions at the funfair. The noiseless time is a time when the machine sounds and music are turned off, usually intended to allow kids with sensorial sensibility to enjoy.
Extra safety at the fair
Here are some safety measures that the organizers have included in the program of Feria de San Juan, to make sure everyone can enjoy it:
Information post: there will be an information post next to the entrance of La Paloma Fairgrounds.
Identification bracelets: identification bracelets can be taken from the information post. Write the name of your child and phone number of the parents, so that in the event of the loss of minors, any adult can contact their families quickly.
Safety path: there will be a safety path from the attractions and booths area to the Civil Protection post, so that parents can explain to minors that in case of loss, following the green line painted on the ground they can reach a safe meeting place.
Children’s hearing protectors: hearing protectors that reduce noise exposure by up to 80% will be provided at request, in the information post.
Accessible program: people who are blind or have low vision will be able to download the fair program in audio format using QR codes that will be at the information post as well as at different points in the Fairgrounds. The audio format will be available in different languages in QR code format for tourists who visit during the fair.
Friendly space and breastfeeding room: this is a room prepared for the tranquility of breastfeeding mothers, babies and people with functional diversity. It will be placed next to the entrance of the fairgrounds.
Reserved space for people with reduced mobility or functional diversity: the Delegation of Popular Festivals and Traditions will reserve a space within the municipal booth so that people with functional diversity or reduced mobility can enjoy the concerts offered within the fair programming. This space must be reserved 24 hours in advance by e-mail (festejos@benalmadena.es). The space must be accessed half an hour in advance. (Only one companion per person).
Violet and rainbow points: these points will be placed next to the Municipal Auditorium, as an information space about drug use, alcohol consumption prevention and sexual health.
Useful phones: 016 – Gender Violence Attention; 112 – Emergencies; 092 – Local Police; 091 – National Police
We need to talk about this program…
…Because it is incomplete. And this is not happening only with Benalmadena’s fair; I’ve noticed a similar pattern in other fair programs I’ve been translating recently: they over-focus on the events happening on the Municipal Booth and don’t mention much about what is going on in the rest of the nighttime fair at the fairgrounds. If it were only for the program, one could think the nighttime fair is comprised only of the municipal and youth booths, and nothing or not much else, when in reality, it is so much more! So, I’ll try to fill in some gaps here:
Let’s talk about the funfair
The main part of this fair, and actually of most fairs, is the funfair. The nighttime fair is basically several funfair attractions, food and play stalls, booths and pubs along the streets of the fairgrounds, under a festive illumination. But the program barely mentions the presence of a funfair – it just says that on June 30, there will be children’s and youth attractions at popular prices – and that is our only hint to the existence of a funfair in this feria.
What time it opens and closes? We can only guess by the time on the same June 30 – last day of the fair – that it is from 7:00 pm to 02:00 am. Will it be the same time on all other days? We don’t know, because it is not in the program.
I’ve been to the fair on the first night and took several pictures of the funfair. Here are a few. Not only there is a huge funfair going on, with several attractions, like bumping cars and roller coaster (pictured here), Viking ship and many other whose name I don’t know :), but there is also an area of the fair with attractions dedicated to younger kids, that has even a mini-Ferris wheel (Mini noria, below. Cute!)
Let’s talk about Sentido at the Youth Booth
What does that even mean? The sentence “Sentido at the Youth Booth From 10:00 pm to 5:00 am” appears on 6 days of the program but is quite mysterious. Is Sentido the name of a party? The word itself has several meanings in Spanish – it can mean sense, direction, meaning – which doesn’t help. Given it is in the Youth Booth, it hints at something for the young crowd – but how young? As it goes up to 5:00 am, I am thinking of young adults. And that’s all information I can imply from the program: perhaps a party for young adults.
I was quite curious about this one and looked for the Youth Booth in the fairgrounds. The picture below is what I found: it charges 12 euro for admission; (shouldn’t this info be on the program?) it is the only booth that has security at the door – and I believe the only one that charges – and there is a TV inside playing football. It was practically empty at the time I was there – though the fair was quite full. The mystery remains.
Let’s talk about the fact that there are other booths and bars
Many others, as a matter of fact. There are some booths that belong to political parties, others that belong to religious brotherhoods, and some others that didn’t mention ownership, but may well be outposts of local restaurants and pubs. They were mostly playing mechanical music, and had tables where people could sit, rest, drink and eat. My favorite ones were the ones of the religious Brotherhoods, because the people there take pride in the feria, and some go dressed in Andalusian costumes. It really brings charm to the fair. The ones playing Latin-American rhythms were great too, and quite lively!
Let’s talk about the inexistence of workshops
In previous ferias, there used to be workshops for adults and kids, where people could either learn something cultural or do some activity related to the context of the event – could be a dance class, some craft, painting, etc. This year, I don’t see it anywhere in the program. I miss it, particularly the workshops for kids, because the small ones could be left there, entertained for one hour, and the parents could enjoy a bit of the Feria on their own. 😀 Please bring kid’s workshops back!
Let’s talk about payments
It wouldn’t hurt to have a reminder somewhere in the program that many places in the Feria simply do not accept card payment. The bumping cars just accept card payments above 10 euros (is it legal to have this restriction?); the cotton candy stall doesn’t accept card at all. To be on the safe side and enjoy the Feria to the maximum, it is advisable to take cash with you.
Conclusion
The Feria de San Juan in Arroyo de la Miel is set to ignite the streets with vibrant celebrations and unforgettable experiences from June 23 to June 30. With a program of activities including traditional bonfires, fireworks, lively music performances, and cultural displays – and a lot more beyond the program – this event promises to be one of the highlights of the year.
The festivities will take place across different locations, each offering unique attractions and events; on top of that, Benalmadena ‘s Town Hall has ensured a safe and enjoyable environment for all, with measures such as information posts, identification bracelets, and accessible facilities. All left to do is to prepare yourself for the excitement of the Feria de San Juan. Enjoy and see you around!
Next: The 9 Benalmadenas – Neighborhoods of Benalmadena
