Benalmadena Fair 2025 – San Juan Fair program
Benalmadena Fair 2025 (also known as San Juan Fair 2025) 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 2025 from June 23 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.
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, which you can click to enlarge! 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 and on the side, in blue) takes you directly to that spot of the post.
Directions to the main locations of the San Juan Fair 2025
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 29, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 or 7:00 pm. Several music groups will play there. If it is like the previous years, there will be a tent with a lot of people dancing and having fun – but beware; it is super hot.
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 2025’s program of the San Juan Fair 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 fair events); it is also where we find the Municipal Auditorium and the Municipal Booth.
And now, let’s see the program, day by day!
June 23, 2025 – San Juan’s Eve
Beginning of the visit by the Jury of the Júas, Streets, and Balconies Competitions of the 2025 Fair
7:00 pm at the streets of Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena.
Feast of the Rocío Brotherhood
7:00 pm at Calle Parra
Bar with Popular Prices
Feast of the Redención Brotherhood
7:00 pm at Calle Parra
Bar with Popular Prices and Sardine Festival.
Face painting and live performances by local academies and groups.
These feasts, called Verbenas in Spanish, are really popular among locals, very family friendly, beautiful and fun. Check them out if you are around, take your family and friends and enjoy a good evening. If you want to stay a bit longer, you gotta arrive early, as tables are taken fast! Below, a few picture of last year’s Verbenas at Calle Parra.
1st Lightning of the Artistic Decorations of the San Juan Fair 2025
10:00 pm at the Plaza de la Autonomía (corner of Blas Infante Street).
Lighting by the Mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, the Queens and Knights of the San Juan Festival, and other Authorities.
Performance by the Arroyo de la Miel Municipal Dance School.
Instructor: Toñi Lopez
Burning of the Traditional Júas
Midnight at the streets of Arroyo de la Miel, Benalmádena.
Isn’t it misterious, when they say “streets of Arroyo de la Miel”, being that Arroyo is a whole neighborhood with hundreds of streets? I guess – and it is only a guess – that at least some of the action will happen on Calle las Flores, simply because this street is the unspoken heart and core of Arroyo de la Miel. So take it as an insider tip, based on experience but not certainty. 😉 By all means, direction to Calle las Flores below; more precisely, to the small square in Calle las Flores:
Great Musical Pyro Show
1:00 AM at the El Bil Bil Castle (Castillo El Bil Bil)
Fireworks, light, and music.
June 24, 2025
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm – Groups Trenzao and Kalima
Solemn Mass in Honor of Our Patron Saint John the Baptist (San Juan)
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, Calle Velarde to Calle Benalmádena, Calle Correos, Calle Vicente Alexandre and back to the Church.
With the Municipal Music Band of Benalmádena.
Nighttime Fair at La Paloma Fairgrounds
At the Municipal Booth:
09:30 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, other authorities, Queens, and Knights of the San Juan Fair 2025.
11:00 pm – Municipal Booth’s welcome drinks offered by Veneciadores S.L.
11:30 pm – Star performance by Las Soles
From 01:00 am to 03:00 am – Dancing and fun with DJ Tony Martín
June 25, 2025
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Esencia and Kalima
Center Fair at Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by the Benalmádena Fibromyalgia Association
9:45 pm – Performance by the Salmebacha Sports Club
Nighttime Fair at La Paloma Fairgrounds
At the Municipal Booth:
09:30 pm – Dance and fun with the Kalima Orchestra
11:30 pm – Star performance by Henry Mendez
From 01:00 am to 03:00 am – Dancing and fun with DJ Tony Martín
June 26, 2025
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Esencia and Alboreá
Center Fair at Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by the Mariluz Márquez Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair at La Paloma Fairgrounds
At the Municipal Booth:
09:30 pm – Dance and fun with the Alboreá Orchestra
11:30 pm – Star performance by Pitingo
From 01:00 am to 03:00 am – Dancing and fun with DJ Tony Martín
June 27, 2025
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Alboreá and Kalima
Center Fair at Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by the Carmen Sultana Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair at La Paloma Fairgrounds
At the Municipal Auditorium of the Fairgrounds:
From 10:00 pm to 03:00 am – Youth Auditorium Music Concerts
At the Municipal Booth:
09:30 pm – Dance and fun with the Alboreá Orchestra
11:30 pm – Star performance by La Guardia
From 01:00 am to 03:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ Tony Martín
June 28, 2025
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Trenzao and Kalima
Center Fair at Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by the Carmen León Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair at La Paloma Fairgrounds
At the Municipal Auditorium of the Fairgrounds:
From 10:00 pm to 03:00 am – Youth Auditorium Music Concerts
At the Municipal Booth:
09:30 pm – Dance and fun with Querencia
11:30 pm – Star performance by Don Patricio
From 01:00 am to 03:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ Tony Martín
June 29, 2025 – Children’s Day
On Children’s Day, the funfair attractions are offered at lower prices. At least in theory, or better, at least some of the attractions.
Daytime Fair shows at Plaza de Pueblosol
From 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm – Groups Trenzao and RedBones
Center Fair at Plaza de la Mezquita
9:00 pm – Performance by the Rosa Rincón Dance Academy
Nighttime Fair at La Paloma Fairgrounds
At the Municipal Booth:
08:30 pm – Awards Ceremony for the 2025 San Juan Pilgrimage and Fair. Awards for Horsemen, Carts, Paellas, Júas, Balconies, and Streets.
09:30 pm – Dance and fun with the Rompeolas Orchestra
Midnight – Star performance by Alvaro García and Nia
From 01:00 am to 03:00 am – Dance and fun with DJ Tony Martín
Extra safety at the fair
The fair is safe – I honestly have never seen any problem, but I also tend to go back home early, mostly because of Kiddo. That being said, here are some safety measures that the organizers have included in the program of Feria de Benalmadena 2025, to make sure everyone can enjoy it:
Information post: there will be an information post next to the entrance of La Paloma (nighttime) 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.
Children’s hearing protectors: hearing protectors that reduce noise exposure by up to 80% will be provided at request, in the information post.
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.
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, again…
…Because it is incomplete. It over-focuses 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 booth and the youth auditorium, 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 29th, there will be 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 don’t know, because it is not in the program. But I can already see a big Ferris Wheel form my home; I’m sure there is a funfair being buitl!
Here are a few pictures of last year’s funfair. There were several attractions, like bumping cars and roller coaster (pictured here), Viking ship and many other whose name I don’t know :). There was 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 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 last year just accepted card payments above 10 euros (is it legal to have this restriction?); the cotton candy stall didn’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 Benalmadena Fair 2025, in Arroyo de la Miel, is set to ignite the streets with vibrant celebrations and unforgettable experiences from June 23 to June 29. With a program of activities including traditional bonfires, fireworks, lively music performances, and cultural displays – and a lot more beyond the program – this event is always 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!
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