4 Magical Arabian Days – Zoco Arabe in Benalmadena Pueblo
2024 edition
The Zoco Árabe / Arabian Bazaar in Benalmadena Pueblo will happen from August 29 to September 1st in 2024. During these 4 fantastic days, the stretch of Benalmadena Pueblo from the Plaza de las 3 Culturas up to the Iglesia (Church) de Santo Domingo de Guzmán will host shows of Middle Eastern dance, music, workshops, crafts, gastronomy and, of course, a large open air street market/bazaar.
The bazaar will have stalls decorated with arab motifs, lanterns and colorful long scarfs; it will be exuding incense and offering delights such as Moorish teas, falafels and sfihas, as well as typical clothes, ceramics, henna tattoos and more surprises. Maybe a genie coming out of a lamp?
The location
According to the program, that we’ll see next, the events will happen in the Plaza del Alguacil, Calle Real, Plaza de España and in the area around the Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, including the Jardines del Muro. There will be also shows in the Plaza de Andalucía.
On the Zoco Árabe map above, that you can click to open on Google Maps, I’ve marked all the places that are mentioned in the program, so you can know how to walk around. 😉
The program
The event celebrates the Moorish heritage of Andalucia in Spanish style: with a big, multiple day event filled with joy and memorable moments! To make it easier to enjoy it all, I’ve translated the program published by Benalmadena’s Town Hall into English. 😉 And I couldn’t resist adding a few of my own remarks in italic!
Above: the original pages of the program of the Zoco Arabe, in Spanish. Press the arrows to switch pages.
I feel tempted to make a reference to a 1001 nights, but I’ll try my best to avoid the cliché, mostly because the events run from noon to midnight 3 out of 4 of the days. So let’s think of it as 4 Magical Arabian days – it has a good kick to it, right?
August 29, Thursday
7:00 pm – Inauguration of the Zoco Árabe
Interactive parades: Musicians and dancers walk through the market.
Show at the door of the Church.
Opening of the craft-market stalls.
Ecological merry-go-round (meaning it will be spined by hand!)
Children’s playroom, game tables and free photo booth with period characters (behind the Church).
Falconry Exhibition (Plaza del Alguacil).
7:30 pm – Opening of demonstration workshops:
Pottery, Painting and Henna.
Arab tea shop (Church esplanade).
9:30 pm – Musical parade.
The “Flight of the Eagle”, flight of birds of prey through the market.
This was a very interesting addition to this year’s Zoco Árabe! A bit of the flight in the video below:
10:30 pm – Concert in Plaza de Andalucía
by the group Alfolk (Arabic music group).
Midnight – End of activities Parade
with musicians and belly dancers.
Market closure.
August 30, Friday
Noon – Interactive parade: Musicians tour the market.
Ecological merry-go-round.
Children’s playroom, game tables and free photos with period characters (behind the Church).
Archery Workshop.
Pottery Workshop.
Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Painting Workshop.
Henna Workshop.
Falconry exhibition (Plaza del Alguacil).
2:30 pm – Interactive parade: Musicians tour the market.
The “Flight of the Eagle”, flight of birds of prey through the market.
3:00 pm – Closing of the market, time for eating.
(Siesta!!!)
7:00 pm – Interactive musical parade: Musicians tour the market.
Opening of the craft-market stalls.
7:30 pm – Opening of demonstration workshops:
Pottery Workshop.
Painting Workshop.
Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Henna Workshop.
Arab tea shop (Church esplanade).
Falconry Exhibition (Plaza del Alguacil).
9:30 pm – Interactive musical parade.
10:30 pm – Concert in Plaza de Andalucía
by the group Zirajh.
11:30 pm – Musical Parade.
Midnight – End of activities parade with musicians.
Musical concert on the esplanade of the Church (with Alfolk).
Market closure.
August 31, Saturday
Noon – Interactive musical parade: Musicians tour the market.
Ecological merry-go-round.
Children’s playroom: game tables and free photos with period characters (behind the Church).
Archery Workshop.
Pottery Workshop.
Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Painting Workshop.
Henna Workshop.
Arab tea shop (Church esplanade).
Falconry exhibition (Plaza del Alguacil).
2:30 pm – Interactive musical parade: musicians tour the market.
3:00 pm – Closing of the market, time for eating.
7:00 pm – Interactive musical parade: Musicians tour the market.
Show at the door of the Church.
7:30 pm – Opening of the craft-market stalls.
Opening of demonstration workshops:
Pottery Workshop.
Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Painting Workshop.
Henna Workshop.
Arab tea shop (Church esplanade).
9:30 pm – Interactive musical parade.
10:30 pm – Concert in the Plaza de Andalucía
by the group AIFolk
11:30 pm – Musical parade.
Midnight – Parade to close activities with musicians.
Musical concert on the esplanade of the Church.
Market closure.
September 1, Sunday
Noon – Interactive musical parade: musicians tour the market
Ecological merry-go-round.
Children’s playroom, game tables and free photos with period characters (behind the Church)
Archery Workshop.
Pottery Workshop.
Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Painting Workshop.
Henna Workshop.
Falconry exhibition (Plaza del Alguacil)
2:30 pm – Interactive musical parade: musicians tour the market
3:00 pm – Closing of the market, time for eating.
7:00 pm – Interactive parades: Musicians tour the market.
Show at the door of the Church.
Opening of the craft-market stalls.
7:30 pm – Opening of demonstration workshops:
Pottery Workshop.
Arabic Calligraphy Workshop.
Painting Workshop. Henna Workshop.
Arab tea shop (Church esplanade).
9:30 pm – Interactive musical parade.
10:30 pm – Concert in Plaza de Andalucía
by the group AlFolk.
11:30 pm – Musical parade
10:30 pm – Parade to close activities with musicians.
11:30 pm – Musical concert on the esplanade of the Church.
Midnight – market closing
At the bottom of the program it reads, enigmatically: the workshops and attractions remain open during all the hours of the market.
Related post:
The Siesta tradition
How to get to the Arabian Bazaar in Benalmadena Pueblo
You can get there by bus, on the lines 112, 121, 126 and 103. The problem is that the buses stop running around or before 22:00, and the market goes on until midnight. During the recent Feria de Benalmádena Pueblo the buses worked until later than usual; I hope they’ll do the same for the Zoco Árabe, but up to now I didn’t see this information; I’ll update if something comes up. You can’t get there by train. You can get there by car, as there are several parking lots close to the main event location; they will probably get full fast, though.
A bit of the Zoco Árabe in 2023
And don’t forget!
While in Benalmadena Pueblo, please support the local commerce. Look around: there are almost no big chain commerce shops. The businesses are owned by locals and provide local jobs. We can help to keep the lovely, cute Benalmadena Pueblo as it is by boosting its economy while exploring the hidden gems of the Pueblo. And there are great and unique opportunities around!
I hope you enjoy the Zoco Árabe and bring home great souvenirs, amazing pictures, and unforgettable memories. And maybe some henna!! Don’t forget to scrub a lantern if you see one around that looks like it could have a genie; after all, Benalmadena Pueblo is known to be a place where dreams come true.
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