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6 minutes readFebruary
Barcelona Carnival (Carnestoltes)
- Where: Barcelona
- When: 20-26 February
During the carnival, the city’s streets host all sorts of competitions, especially culinary ones. Any willing member of the public can try the dishes made by the competitors — so it’s the perfect chance for a tourist to familiarize himself or herself with the local cuisine (and wine).
The largest number of events is held on Sundays. These include a grand fancy-dress ball and an “orange battle” when the city’s emissaries and their suite fill entire districts with orange confetti and balloons.
Фото: Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock.com
This is completed by an unusual event known as the “Burial of the Sardine” — a model fish is placed in a coffin, carried around the streets, and then burnt. After that, a less bizarre and more fun part begins — fireworks and the cooking of fish, which is handed out free to spectators.
March
Las Fallas
- Where: Valencia
- When: 15-19 March
The main event of this holiday is the burning of huge figures (“falles”) made of papier-mache and plywood. Many of these are 20-25 meters tall and even rise higher than buildings! After being left standing for several days, they burn down in flames, symbolizing with their death the coming of spring.
Фото: Silvia B. Jakiello / Shutterstock.com
You can watch fireworks and pyrotechnic displays almost every evening.
April
Semana Santa – the Holy Week procession
- Where: Seville, Madrid
- When: 5-12 April
Holy Week ends with Lent, which is when Catholics repent their sins. Hence the main heroes of the procession are repenting sinners wearing capirotes (tall pointed hats with holes for eyes).
Фото: Peter Adams Photography L / Shutterstock.com
May
Dos de Mayo
- Where: Madrid
- When: 2 May
This celebration is usually stretched over two weeks, but on the 2nd May you might catch a number of military parades, plays, concerts, and fairs. During those days, many museums open special exhibitions, and restaurants offer a special festive menu.
Point out to your clients that if their trip happens during Dos de Mayo then it might be overcrowded in Madrid, and the main tourist sites may have amended visiting hours. If they don’t want to take part in the festivities, then they can get out of the city for the day or select accommodation further from the center.
June
Primavera Sound music festival
- Where: Barcelona
- When: 4-6 June
This annual music festival gathers fans of alternative and electronic music from throughout the world. It’s best to buy tickets as early as possible, and the same goes for booking somewhere to stay — the closer it gets to the festival dates, the higher the prices are.
Primavera Sound is held at the specially equipped Forum platform near to the sea, so camping there is out of the question.
Фото: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com
A night of fires, or Bonfires of St. John
- Where: Valencia, Alicante, Costa Brava
- When: the night of 23 to 24 June
This picturesque event is usually held by the sea or a lake, or sometimes in parks. The fire symbolizes, leaving everything old behind, and everything new that awaits us. Worn-out furniture, old clothes, and other unwanted items are thrown on to the fire, while lovers throw notes with the names of their other halves into the fires so that they will always be together (or to make somebody fall in love with them).
Фото: 19bProduction / Shutterstock.com
July
San Fermín, or the bull run
- Where: Pamplona
- When: 7-14 July
The holiday of San Fermín consists not only of the bull run (which is a frightening and dangerous way to have fun) but also of other events, for example, music festivals.
Фото: Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock.com
Sonar
- Where: Barcelona
- When: 18-20 July
This is a world-famous festival of electronic music, whose line-up is a closely-held secret until the last moment.
August
Bilbao Big Week
- Where: Bilbao
- When: 15-23 August
Carnival week, whose main heroine is Marijaia — a rosy-cheeked fat lady with raised arms (who is ceremoniously burnt at the end of the festival). During the week competitions, fancy dress parties, shows, and evening fireworks displays are held throughout the city.
La Tomatina
- Where: Buñol
- When: 28 August
This traditional tomato fight attracts tourists from throughout the world every year. The night before the battle, a competition to make paella is held. Also during La Tomatina you might see fireworks displays, and you can walk around the fairs, dance on the dance floors, and watch performances by musicians and actors.
Фото: Iakov Filimonov / Shutterstock.com
September
Flamenco Festival
- Where: Seville
- When: 4 September
Flamenco is, of course, danced throughout Spain, and troupes sometimes come to hotels and put on shows for the guests. However, Seville is the home of Flamenco, so you can watch this dance in all its varieties during the festival.
National Day of Catalonia
- Where: Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, Lleida
- When: 11 September
Processions, rallies, and speeches are held in these cities during this celebration.
If your client’s aim is to walk around town and enjoy the quiet, then this may be problematic due to the crowds of holidaying Spaniards and tourists who want to join in the fun. We also recommend checking in advance the opening times of tourist sites and museums.
Фото: joelpapalini / Shutterstock.com
October
Hispanidad, or the Fiestas del Pilar
- Where: Aragon
- When: 12 October
Hispanidad encompasses the community of countries that speak predominantly Spanish. The date wasn’t chosen by chance: on 12 October 1492, Columbus set off on his trip around the world during which he discovered America. Spain that day expresses its solidarity with and support for its friends across the ocean, and the latter also celebrate this landmark date.
The national anthem is played on this day in many cities, military parades are held, and performances and shows are put on commemorating Columbus’s journey.
November
Olive festival
- Where: Baena
- When: November/early December
If your guests find themselves in Baena during the festival, they definitely won’t miss it. Olives will be everywhere: talks will be given on them, they will be handed out as treats, and there will be classes on how to grow them, process them, and taste them.
One of the main events will be the “tapas crawl” (tapas are hot and cold snacks). This is a journey through the town’s restaurants, where a special menu with three courses is served based on olives or olive oil. The winner is the person who manages to visit all the places on the list in a single evening and tries all the tapas!
December
Christmas
- Where: throughout the country
- When: 25 December
Christmas fairs open throughout Europe from mid-November, and on Christmas eve they warm both locals and tourists with their gifts. Your guests won’t miss the brightly-painted marquees.
Фото: Semmick Photo / Shutterstock.com
If one of these events coincides with your clients’ trip, then warn them in advance, and maybe they will manage to take part in one of these wonderful, colorful festivals.
