The Amazing Ferias of the Costa del Sol

The Ferias of the Costa del Sol are events that gather locals and tourists around fun, tradition, food and culture – an experience for the whole family that belongs in your bucket list!

What is a feria?

A feria (fair) is a traditional Spanish event that last for several days – usually for about a week – that mixes fair with funfair, commerce, food, music, dance, shows, faith and typical traditions of a given locality. Ferias, also called fiestas mayores (major parties) or fiestas patronales (patron saint parties), are a big part of life in Spain. Family members travel to visit their original pueblo during the feria time; locals often dress up in traditional costumes and the towns even install a special festive illumination for the occasion!

The ferias happen on specific dates defined each year, close to the day of the patron saint of the city or town. In most cases, the feria is a celebration of the patron saint that over time became a celebration of the city itself. For that reason, there are processions (in honor of the local saint) associated to the ferias, as well as masses on one or more days of the ferias, and plenty of parties, food and entertainment on all days.

The whole feria is managed by the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) of each town. They prepare a full program and offer daytime activities, such as music shows and a large offer of food stalls, and nighttime activities, when there can be workshops and shows; parties for teenagers and others for those above 18, as well as events for seniors side-by side with a funfair, in which there are special times for people with sensitivity to noise. You see how inclusive it is and why it is a big deal.

Where does the ferias happen?

Cities take the ferias so seriously that they usually have what they call a recinto ferial (fair space or fairgrounds), a big, paved area that stays mostly empty or in use as a parking lot all year long, except for the fair time. Then they boom. But the feria doesn’t happen only in the recinto ferial, no. It often has different activities going on in several areas of the cities besides the recinto. You can check the program of the feria on the Ayuntamiento’s (Town Hall) website or facebook pages (if you are luck enough to find it) and see where the activities that interest you are going to happen.

When does the ferias happen?

Maybe in order to avoid competition, the ferias of the different cities of the Costa del Sol do not overlap (much) in time. Despite that, these ferias are concentrated on the warmer months of the year – approximately from April to October. On summer, there is a Feria going on almost every day somewhere in the Costa del Sol.

I did a compilation of dates and programs (which I translated to English) and list them ahead in this post. As a matter of fact, some cities have more than one fair per year, and besides that, some neighborhoods within the cities also have their own ferias, which means that even if there are no major city ferias going on when you come, you probably can find some feria whenever you are in the Costa del Sol from April to October!

Check our topic about the yearly chronology of the Ferias, ahead in this post, to get a good idea of the timing of each specific fair.

Parts and structure of a Feria

Ferias happen every year, and they tend to repeat certain routines – think of a wedding, for instance; there are certain steps of the ceremony that are always there, and that make it recognizable. Ferias, too, have their structure, which we’ll see below.

Part 1: Program publication

A bit before the Feria, the Town Hall publish a program of the event, with the schedule of the activities that are going to happen, what shows and where. This program is usually in Spanish only, except for Fuengirola, which publishes the program for the Feria del Rosario in English as well.

The programs are heavily focused on the activities that are going to happen in the Municipal Booth and other booths run by the Town Hall themselves, such as the Youth Booth or the Seniors Booth (when present) which are only a few of the “houses” which typically host events during the Feria. Torremolinos takes the time to publish the program for all their booths, but in the Costa del Sol, no other town does it.

Above, a few program covers of past Ferias in the Costa del Sol.

The programs also tend to provide plenty of information about the processions / parades and about religious activities, as well as shows, workshops and the children’s day (Día del niño), a day when funfair activities charge a bit less. Fuengirola tends to post their programs weeks ahead of the Feria, while Torremolinos usually post theirs 2 or three days before the official start of the event – when much of the pre-feria has already happened. All other towns fall in between.

This closeness between program publication and the start of the Feria has a clear consequence that we can’t really prepare much ahead – tourists have a hard time booking trips to match a particular Feria. For that reason, I am including in the yearly chronology the dates when each Feria happened in both 2023 and 2024, so you can have a reference of when each Feria is likely to happen in the next years.

Part 2: Pre-feria

Because one week of partying is not enough (!), before the Feria itself there is a pre-feria, which is much like a feria, just without the special illumination. These can be religious events, sport competitions, horse shows or even a vintage car exhibition – like Torremolinos traditionally does. In short, it can be anything, and usually lasts for a few days – say, 1 to 5 days.

Part 3: Procession / Parade

The Feria itself tends to be named after the patron saint of the city – such as Feria de la Virgen de la Peña, in Mijas Pueblo, or Feria de San Bernabé, in Marbella – and a procession in honor of the saint is guaranteed to happen. Now, what this procession is like varies a lot from city to city. In smaller and more traditional locations, these tend to be more serious and religious, while in bigger areas, the processions tend to be more like parades, a celebration of the city rather than of the saint.

Everywhere, the front part of the procession is more religious, and the back part is more festive; but if there is a throne involved – a large wooden statue carried on the shoulders by hundreds of men – it is a procession, not a parade. Each locality has their own peculiarity when it comes to this procession / parade: in Torremolinos there are tractors pulling carts, which belong to local associations or commerce and carry beverages and / or speakers blasting the latest hits; in Benalmadena, the same, just pulled by bulls rather than tractors; but in Fuengirola, there is a throne instead of carts, so it’s more formal.

Some cities have two such events during their Feria; some have one before the Feria starts and one during the Feria days. It all depends on the convenience and tradition of each place. The routes followed by the processions / parades tend to be published in the programs.

The festive parades are fun and full of energy, while the more formal processions are deeply touching and emotional, made even more beautiful by the flower petals being thrown on the throne along the streets. Both 100% worth attending.

Part 4: Inauguration

There is a ceremony opening the Feria, which has a pregón – an inaugural speech – followed by the switching on of the festive lights by the local authorities. This event normally happens in the Recinto Ferial (fairgrounds), at night, so that the lights can shine.

From here on, the feria is divided into two main groups of activities, generally referred as daytime events and nighttime events.

Day fair (Feria de Día)

I would expect the children-oriented events to be here, but it is not quite like that. Day time activities are usually (but not only) music shows for adults and traditional folkloric dance presentations! These events tend to be located not in the Recinto Ferial, but in the main square or squares of the cities. I believe it is a way to bring the Feria closer to the locals by spreading it through the main areas where people gather. Bringing the Feria to the people, so to speak.

In summer, it is very hot during the day, so I think it is actually a good idea not to have kids’ activities during daytime. Unless they involve water, as in the inflatable waterpark that Benalmadena offered in 2023!

Night fair (Feria de Noche)

That’s when most of the magic happens. The nighttime fair happens mostly in the recinto ferial (fairgrounds), starting around 5 pm, with the funfair turning on their equipment. The fairgrounds are different in size, so the biggest have more attractions. Roller coasters, for instance, can be found only on the biggest ones, such as Benalmadena’s Feria de San Juan and Fuengirola’s Feria del Rosario. Kids and adults enjoy the one week per year when an amusement park is in the city!

There are several food stalls spread among the mechanical attractions of the funfair, and some bars and restaurants install themselves in some of the booths / houses of the feria, catering for the public of the Feria. These booths / houses are often called casetas (something like mini-house) and can be rented by local associations or commercial venues. Each renter is responsible for the entertainment or attractions on display in their space during the Feria days.

How to get to the feria

Don’t go there by car, because it is impossible to park anywhere near the Ferias Also, parts of the streets surrounding the main Feria areas may be blocked for security and become walk-only streets. Walk, take an uber or use public transportation instead. 😉 Malaga and Fuengirola’s fairgrounds are easily accessible by train; Benalmadena and Torremolinos are possible to reach by train too, but it is not so straight forward and require some considerable walking (or a taxi from the station).

Feria de Malaga

Ayuntamiento de malaga: https://www.malaga.eu/

The Feria de Malaga happens in August. and stretches from one Saturday of the month to the next. You can expect shows with drones and fireworks, about a hundred (a hundred!!) presentations of music, theater and dance, mostly performed by local artists and most of them for free.

There will probably be plenty of Flamenco, magic shows and horses and carriages in the Recinto Ferial. Even though almost a million people watch or participate in the activities in the Feria, it doesn’t get (much) crowded because they don’t happen all at the same time, place or day.

The recinto ferial tends to have more people during the night than during the day. One good thing is that both the feria de día, which takes place in the Old Town, and the Feria de Noche, in the fairgrounds (shown below), are accessible by train.

Related Post:
Malaga fair 2024

Feria de Torremolinos

Ayuntamiento de Torremolinos: https://www.torremolinos.es/

The Feria de Torremolinos happens in the end of September and beginning of October. It is also called Feria de San Miguel, which is the city’s patron saint. It usually starts with a romería (procession) on the last Sunday of September and the feria itself happens the following week. In 2023, the romería was on September 24, and in 2024, on September 22.

During the daytime, activities take place mainly in the Plaza de la Nogalera, and at night, at Torremolinos’ recinto ferial. You can expect good food, a variety of musical presentations, lots of entertainment for the kids and beautiful city lights. The main day of the feria is September 29^th, which is San Miguel’s day; on the last day of the fair, prices are lower in the funfair.

Torremolinos publishes the most complete program of the Costa del Sol, including the activities of each of the casetas of the fairgrounds. Unfortunately, the Town Hall tends to publish it only a couple days before the start of the Feria, so we miss a lot of the pre-feria and can’t really plan ahead.

Another particularity of Torremolinos is the location of the fairgrounds. It is a bit far from the city center, and not very easy to reach on foot. I guess the locals like it this way, – probably nobody in the residential part of the city will have their sleep disturbed by the nightlong parties. So, if you are planning to go, take a taxi or an Uber to reach the fairgrounds (shown below).

Related post:
Feria de Torremolinos 2024 – classic cars and La Bardot

Feria de Benalmadena

Ayuntamiento de Benalmadena: https://www.benalmadena.es/

The Feria de Benalmadena, also known as Feria de San Juan and as Feria de Arroyo de la Miel, happens around St Johns’s day, June 24^th. On the eve of San Juan’s day there are bonfires in Arroyo de la Miel and people gathered on the beach, close to the Castillo El Bil Bil, to watch the inaugural fireworks. Then, for about a week there are several music and dance shows on different parts of the city.

The recinto ferial, the Plaza de la Mesquita and the Plaza Pueblosol, just besides the Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel train station, along several streets of Arroyo de la Miel, are the main locations of the fair’s activities, which range from religious processions during the day to rap parties during the night, including many activities for kids, both at day and at night.

Benalmadena also has another Feria, happening in mid-august, called Feria de la Virgen de la Cruz, in Benalmádena Pueblo.

Different from Torremolinos and Fuengirola, both fairgrounds in Benalmadena are void of casetas, the little houses that host several events during the Ferias. Benalmadena has tents built for the Ferias, which isolates the spaces, but not as well as it does in places with a solid structure. On the other hand, it offers some customization of the space from year to year.

Another particularity is that Benalmadena’s Feria de San Juan last longer than what it states on the cover of the program. Check our first experience enjoying Benalmádena’s fair, in 2023, to see that interesting peculiarity, plus pictures of the specific areas and have a better idea of what the events look like from close. Spoiler alert: it included an inflatable waterpark!

Above, recinto ferial of Arroyo de la Miel and below, recinto ferial of Benalmadena Pueblo

Related posts:
The bright and fiery Feria de San Juan – Benalmadena 2024
Benalmadena Pueblo Fair 2024 – tradition, sports, chocolate and a lot of food!

Feria de Fuengirola

Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola: https://www.fuengirola.es/

Different from most Costa del Sol cities, whose fairs have a religious background celebrating a conveniently chosen saint whose day happens to be in summer, Fuengirola’s fair represents the different countries of the world. Being the city in the Costa del Sol with more foreign residents and the second in Spain, I think Fuengirola’s option for making a different and international fair is excellent!

The Feria International de los Países – FIP (International countries’ fair) happens in the end of April / beginning of May. At the FIP you can expect several different casetas, each representing a country, offering their souvenirs and typical foods. Yummy! Lots of music, dance and activities for the kids. It’s super interesting, and you can travel from one country to the next just by walking to the nest house.

In the first half of October, between October 6 and 12 in both 2023 and 2024, there is a second Feria de Fuengirola, called Feria del Rosario. The main theme of this celebration is the horse, so you can expect to see people dressed in traditional horsemen costumes and carriages on the streets. Lots of traditional sevillanas, flamenco dance and musical shows are to be expected through the whole duration of the Feria del Rosario.

Both Ferias of Fuengirola have events in the recinto ferial of Fuengirola, shown below.

Related posts:
Feria de los Países 2024 – culture and fun overwhelm
Feria del Rosario 2024 in Fuengirola

Feria de Mijas

Ayuntamiento de Mijas: https://www.mijas.es/portal/

The Feria de Mijas Pueblo was celebrated from September 5 to 10 in 2023, and from September 3 to 9 in 2024. This Feria happens in the historical part of Mijas (Mijas Pueblo) and is dedicated to the city’s patroness, the Virgen de la Peña. But Mijas actually has 3 ferias. Besides the one in Mijas Pueblo, there are also the Feria de Las Lagunas and the Feria de La Cala de Mijas.

Above: plaza Virgen de la Peña, used as the recinto ferial of Mijas Pueblo

In Mijas Pueblo they have procession for kids with big inflatables (‘big heads’) and a second one with inflatable bulls closing the events. 🙂 The Feria de Las Lagunas invests heavily in shows, and the Feria de La Cala has the singularity that their daytime feria happens by the sea, making it extra beautiful!

Above recinto ferial of Las Lagunas de Mijas, and below, recinto ferial of La Cala de Mijas, also known as ‘parking caravanas’, because that’s what it is when not in Feria!

Related posts:
Mijas Pueblo Fair 2024
Feria de Las Lagunas de Mijas 2024
La Cala de Mijas Fair 2024 – Colorful and by the sea

Feria de Marbella

Ayuntamiento de Marbella: https://www.marbella.es/

Marbella’s feria, also called Feria de San Bernabé, in honor of the city’s Saint, happens around June 11^th. Several attractions and shows are offered, including an inflatable waterpark in 2023; the next year, the Costa del Sol was facing a drought, so the waterpark couldn’t happen. Below, the recinto ferial de Marbella:

In Marbella there is also the Feria de San Pedro de Alcantara, a large neighborhood of the town. This Feria lasts for a week and may include fireworks, drone shows and lots of musical entertainment in the beautiful fairgrounds of San Pedro (shown below), closing the Ferias season in the Costa del Sol.

Related post:
Feria de Marbella 2024 – fun, parties and big heads
Feria de San Pedro Alcantara 2024

Feria de Estepona

Ayuntamiento de Estepona: https://ayuntamiento.estepona.es/

The Feria de Estepona includes a funfair, fireworks, attractions for kids, musical shows, a horse show and even a Spanish-style bull fight! You can find a promotional video of the feria below, obtained from Estepona’s Ayuntamiento page, followed by the location of Estepona fairgrounds.

Related Post:
Feria de Estepona 2024 – full of surprises!

Yearly chronology of the Ferias

End of April or beginning of May: Feria Internacional de los países (FIP) in Fuengirola
2023: April 27 to May 01
2024: May 01 to May 05

Beginning of June: Feria de San Bernabé in Marbella
2023: June 06 to 12
2024: June 05 to 11
End of June: Feria de San Juan in Benalmádena
2023: June 24 to 29
2024: June 24 to 29
End of June: Feria de Las Lagunas de Mijas
2023: June 28 to July 02
2024: June 26 to 30

Beginning of July: Feria de Estepona
2023: July 04 to 09
2024: July 02 to 07
End of July: Feria de La Cala de Mijas
2023: July 26 to 30
2024: July 24 to 28

Mid-August: Feria de la Virgen de la Cruz in Benalmadena Pueblo
2023: August 11 to 15
2024: August 14 to 18
Mid-August: Feria de Málaga
2023: August 12 to 19
2024: August 17 to 24

Beginning of September: Feria de Mijas Pueblo
2023: September 05 to 10 
2024: September 03 to 09
End of September: Feria de San Miguel in Torremolinos
2023: September 27 to October 01
2024: September 25 to 29

Beginning of October: Feria del Rosario in Fuengirola
2023: October 06 to 12
2024: October 06 to 12
Mid-October: Feria de San Pedro Alcantara in Marbella
2023: October 16 to 22
2024: October 15 to 20

Conclusion and final remarks about the Ferias of the Costa del Sol

It’s hard to find information online about the Ferias, except for when its already too close, like a week or so ahead. Before that, you mostly know that the Feria will happen, and if you live in the area you have the previous feria memory to use as a reference of what to expect and where. If you are new or a tourist, you may skip it completely.

Only close to the Feria days you can find the program with all the activities that it will offer, plus times and locations. Still, the program is often a bit mysterious; it says things like “Caseta de menores Nipati Nipami Light (menores de 18 años)” and if one doesn’t know that Nipati Nipami is a musical group, it is hard to understand that it is going to be a party / show for minors. And what minors? Teenagers or little kids? In this case, teenagers – not for my Kiddo yet.

Cities spend time and resources in creating a beautiful poster of each feria for each year, but the amount of publicity those posters get is very small, in my opinion. It is the cover of the program, that is, as previously mentioned, hard to come by; it is not often displayed even in public areas of the cities.

The events at the different fairs are a bit similar – festive lights and decorations, religious processions, many music shows, funfairs – but they are fun. The ayuntamientos try and add unique attractions here and there, which is important and make a big difference, but I personally don’t think it is worth following all the Ferias from city to city (unless you are a big fan, of course), as it would end up getting repetitive. When it is close to you, though, it is very cool and well worth a visit to spend different days, see what the city has prepared and enjoy the city at its best.

The time of the Feria is a special time for the cities and the Ferias themselves are quite a part of Spanish culture. It takes a city to put a Feria together and people take pride in it; you will see many residents of all ages wearing the traditional flamenco costumes – an indisputable sign of belonging.

Many of the Ferias are reserving a day or a few hours of one of the days to be as silent as possible, in order to allow the autistic communities to enjoy the fairs comfortably. On those hours there is no music, and the rides’ sounds are off. Most ferias also have a día del niño (children’s day) when all or at least some paid attractions cost less than usual.

There is no entrance fee for the fairs and many of the shows are free as well. Those presentations that happen in auditoriums, though, may either be paid or require a previous online booking. Food is usually paid – but not always, as some of the unique events involve sharing a paella or other traditional dishes. Some attractions are paid too, such as those you find in the funfairs. So choose which feria you want to attend, check the ayuntamiento’s page or Mama Malaga for locations, activities and last editions, bring the family and come prepared to have fun!