Malaga Feria 2016 : The best climate and fair in the world, lots of fun, delicious cuisine and good music combined with sun, beaches, monuments, museums and cultural visits, but mostly fun and frolic in abundance. From 13 till 20 August 2016
The Feria arrives August and Malaga feria city is ready to live one of the most important fair events of the year for Malaga: Malaga Fair 2016 this year between 13 and 20 August. The Live shows are something unique and worth visiting even for clubbers, and difficult to survive because the party doesnt stop for 10 intense days … how ever you are and live with more or less intensity, it is important to enjoy the experience at one of the main tourist areas in Europe: Málaga and the Costa del Sol.
As I have lived more a few malaga feria (each time with less intensity due to the obligations and over the years …) I plan to do a basic guide of the malaga feria to guide our visitors at this time. Like any massive party you must know how to move, where to go, and there are things that can be improved. I hope you find my basic tips interesting and as I always say, with your comments, opinions and recommendations this article will be much more useful for everyone. Lets go to the malaga feria!
1. Origin of the Malaga feria
Summer festival in Malaga have their origin in the commemoration of the incorporation of Málaga to the Crown of Castile by the Catholic Monarchs, who entered the city on 19 August 1487. A few years later (1491) the City Council established the Start of festivities. Over the years they have been gaining strength and today is the big summer party in southern Spain.
2. Proclamation and Fireworks
The holidays in malaga feria break open at Friday night with the opening, close to the sea, by some prominent authorities and then, at 00:00 with fireworks that inaugurate the holidays in the city. That Friday night there is a concert of music by the Malagueta Beach, although many locals and visitors are enjoying the atmosphere and the bars of central Malaga.
3. Real de la Feria.
It has an area of over 500,000 m2 and 179 trade show booths belonging to social malaga fair organizations, clubs, guilds and companies, the vast majority with free access. It also has all the infrastructure and services, not to mention the typical attractions of a fair for the enjoyment of young and old. The Real has several distinct parts: in the area of the North booths have more room and animation and South are more familiar and where you can eat and be more relaxed. In the area of youth and adolescents are many booths which have loud music, and finally, there is the area of the fairground, a large area with fun for the little ones and not so small, great attractions, raffles and other entertainment.
During the day fair it is very hot and the sun mercilessly punishes the people reaching 35 degrees. I advise to use light clothes and hydrate well.
4. How to get to the exhibition center and the fairground
The council enables more than 5,000 parking spaces in the center for the day fair and almost 10,000 places around the actual so you can drive but some nights there is so many people that it is impossible to park. Therefore, it is best to use public transport, either bus, offering good service both to the center and at night the royal or taxis, more expensive than the bus but compensates when shared . By the way, if you stay in the capital you can also use the newly opened Metro Málaga. If you stay in a nearby village there are also buses with special services and trains that leave you in the center of Malaga (to Torremolinos, Benalmadena or Fuengirola).
5. Fair of the Centre
During the day people usually go to the historic center (although each year the real is more lively at day) to enjoy the party, music, tapas and drink. Larios Street, the busiest and emblem of Malaga pedestrian artery, is the epicenter of the festival, with the Constitution Square and surrounding streets of the historic center as a good place to feel the party atmosphere .
During the day there are often live bands of Verdiales in Calle Larios, brass bands and friends who encourage staff to decide to come. Of course you will hear many sevillanas and see women with beautiful flamenco dresses dancing to music. At sunset, the music in the streets must end by municipal side though people continue to party. And a warning: beware of crowds and fights between drunks (though very seldom) . Avoid the crowded streets if you really are overwhelmed by big crowds.
More than 7,000 cruise passengers arrive at the port of Malaga during the fair days. Surely the party and the atmosphere that they will find in the city center they will never forget.
6. Pilgrimage
The first Saturday of the fair at noon takes place the festival of the city, a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Victory, patron of the city. Riders on horseback, horse-drawn carriages and people on foot accompany the flagship of the malaga feria to this temple so dear to Malaga.
7. Music Fair
If something is not lacking in the malaga feria is the music playing all the time in the corners of the city center and the fairgrounds. Malaga traditional music as the party of the Verdiales at Calle Larios, sevillanas at all times, the typical «summer songs» or disco and pop music in the bars downtown and at the day Fair outside of Town. But there are also live concerts at the youth area (each day there are local groups) and the Municipal Caseta. Full list of artists and events HERE
During the fair in Malaga will be more than 200 free shows for all ages.
8.Bullfighting
The bullfighting is another of the attractions of the malaga feria and the Malagueta bullring hundreds of people will be going to enjoy this festival. The main bullfighters go through the fair in Malaga to the delight of bullfighting. All festivities begin at 19:00 pm.
9. Eat at the Malaga fair
For lunch at the fair in Malaga there are several details that you should know: the day you can eat well in the restaurants of the historic center (although there are many people and some lower quality) and also in the many stores that sell dishes like fried fish, ham, cheese, cooked shrimp or prawns.
Try if you have the opportunity a good gazpacho or garlic soup, a typical dish from malaga feria. I leave you some names of good restaurants and tapas places of the center: Bodegas El Pimpi. Alea, El Refectorio near the Cathedral, Meson Santiago, The Twins, La Reserva del Pastor, Reserve 12, Lo Gueno, Cortijo Pepe….Or if you want something more sophisticated : Jose Carlos Garcia at Pier 1.
We like to go to the snack stands there right in front of El Corte Ingles, because there is quality and good price and if going into the Fair in the city center, its a relaxing location and sometimes they give free tapas :-).
To eat at night at the malaga feria fairgrounds things change and the truth is that it is difficult to eat well and be satisfied. The booths offer traditional foods like potato omelette, fried peppers, eggplant with honey, skewers, croquettes, sausages and fried fish. In all these years I remember not many places where you eat really well at malaga feria. Just use the fast food stalls that are scattered throughout the Cortijo de Torres.
You will eventually drink huge amounts of Cartojal at malaga feria (a slightly sweet Malaga wine with designation of origin) is taken very cold to relieve the heat of August (care that their effects may not be very beneficial). Another typical drink is called rebujito (wine with soda lime type chamomile lemon flavor), beer and all kinds of alcoholic drinks that you can imagine. But beware that it is important and fun to drink in moderation!
10. Culture
Although malaga feria is on holidays and most people come to have fun, it is worth taking a break and do something cultural because Malaga is growing a lot in this area. You can visit some monuments of the historic center or see a museum in Malaga. There are many good ones with good temporary exhibitions (Alcazaba, Cathedral, Castillo Gibralfaro, Roman Theatre ….): Picasso Museum, Thyssen Museum, Automotive, contemporary art ( CAC) … ..
You can not go without …
- View the atmosphere of the malaga feria center, especially calle Larios, Plaza de la Constitution and Calle Granada. A one lifetime experience
- Test the Cartojal wine, (drink with moderation :-) ).
- Give yourself a night around the fairgrounds.
- Listening to malaga feria Verdiales Music @ Calle Larios.
- Eating fried fish in one of the downtown restaurants.
- Take a break in malaga feria from the party for sunbathing and lounging on the beaches of the capital or the Costa del Sol.
- To complement my advice and guidance, here’s the program : General Fair program 2016 .We hope your visit to my city for the August fair will be a pleasant experience. It is the great fair of southern Europe. We are waiting with open arms!
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