Estepona feria 2024
In late May the ever popular Marbella Feria (San Bernabe) was a great success and now it’s the turn of it’s neighbour when the Estepona feria opens tomorrow, 2nd July 2024.
Andalucia is famous for it’s ferias.
The ferias have special significance due to the specific cultural elements that they contribute to Andalusian culture.
The original fairs were of livestock and religious origin. Recent celebrations have more diverse motivations.
Famous festivals such as the Malaga Feria date back to 1487 when the Catholic kings, Isabella and Ferdinand reconquered the city.
Others, like the Seville Fair, started in the mid-1800s with very humble origins and have evolved to become the spectacle they are today.
Estepona feria
The Estepona feria begins on 2nd July 2024 in this wonderful beachside town, one of the fastest growing in popularity in Spain and indeed wider Europe.
Indeed this typically Spanish town has in the last 15 years reinvented itself as the Garden of the Costa del Sol, with a huge upsurge in visitors and expats investing in the area. In 2023 it was voted the second best city in Europe.
The feria will yet again be a chance for the local community to celebrate with singing, dancing until the early hours, food, processions, cultural events, markets and of course, the large fairground at the community grounds (feria grounds / Parque Ferial) at the top of Avenida Juan Carlos.
The feria runs until 7th July and you can view the programme here.
What makes a feria a feria?
You can expect to see these things at any feria across this region.
Large entrances, especially in cities and in extra-urban fairs, It is a monumental and ephemeral architectural element that is usually located at the entrance to the fairground or of the streets used for the fair.
The chiringuitos, which line certain “streets” where food and drinks are sold. In them, typical dishes of Andalusian gastronomy are usually offered, tapas and drinks or traditional mixes, such as manzanilla or rebujito, in addition to some more conventional dishes and drinks.
There is usually music and dancing until the early hours of the morning. Some chiringuitos are privately owned by invitation only but there are always public bars also.
Anf of course ladies (and gentlemen) in stunning traditional dresses. From children to grandmothers many generations dress up for the occasion.
The abundant presence of Andalusian horses (and donkeys) at many of the ferias. Whether involved in street processions, taking people to and fron the feria in carriages or simply riders enjoying a day out, often seen drinking and eating whilst still mounted. The horse is the star of the show. Some ferias like Estepona have competitions to demonstrate skills on horseback, many harking back to by gone years of skills needed in farming and hunting.
There can also be traditional livestock fairs. This tradition has particularly been kept in certain parts of South and central America.
At all ferias you will find Andalusian dance and music of all kinds, from the omnipresent sevillanas to flamenco or Andalusian “aflamencado” pop.
And of course the huge fairground! And fireworks.
