from wine to cheese to sheep to flowers…and more!

Originally published April, 4, 2022. Updated March 22nd 2024

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.

Spanish festivals: insights into Spanish regional culture

One of the most exciting things about planning a trip to Spain is the opportunity to see Spain’s unique culture(s). Many travelers like to try to plan their trips to coincide with some of the fantastic festivals in Spain. From the world-famous ones to some of the lesser-known ones, here are some top picks from the Spain Less Traveled team.

And don’t forget that we can work with you personally to plan your perfect Spain travel itinerary, weaving in some of these festivals along the way. Be sure to check out the personalized Spain travel services that we offer to get started today!

What are the top festivals in Spain?

Here are just a few of our absolute favorite festivals in Spain. Remember, this list is not at all conclusive. One of the most beautiful things about Spain is that just about every village and every region has its own unique festivals.

La Fiesta de los Patios in Córdoba: our #1 favorite festival in Spain

Let’s kick this off with the favorite festival in Spain from us at the Spain Less Traveled team: la Fiesta de los Patios in Córdoba. If you are a regular reader of our blog or a member of our Travel Spain! community, you already know how much we adore this festival.

The famous Patios of Córdoba were uniquely adapted to meet the needs of the initial settlers of the city, Muslims, Romans, and Jews. The epicenter of the home was the Andaluz-style patio including a well (which collected needed rainwater). Later abundant vegetation was added to provide freshness and beauty to the space. Every May, during the first two weeks, the city hosts UNESCO noted “La Fiesta de los Patios” celebrating these beautiful, natural spaces.

The patios festival in Córdoba brings in the celebrations of springtime to the max! Owners adorn their private patios with decor and (most importantly) plants and flowers for the public to visit and enjoy. There is a contest held for the best patio and also wonderful flamenco shows to attend during this celebration. 

It is such a privilege and a treat to attend. Colorful flower pots (usually cobalt blue, or a bright yet rusty red) and filled with vegetation such as geraniums, orange trees, and bougainvilleas cascading down the white-washed walls. Not only are these patios beautiful, but they are functional too. Cordoba summers are hot, and these private, shady interior gardens are meant to keep their inhabitants cooler.

This festival is free and you’ll be provided with a map of all the patios you can visit so make sure to wear comfortable shoes, you’ll be walking around a lot!

Feria de Abril in Seville: a truly Andalucían festival

A hub of southern Spanish culture and home to the famous flamenco, Seville (Sevilla in Spanish) is one of Spain’s most visited cities.

In the capital city of the region of Andalusia, the Seville Fair is not a festival to miss.

It takes place 2 weeks after Easter so it can fall in April or the beginning of May. This festival is where you see all the women dressed in beautiful, colorful flamenco dresses dancing, eating, and drinking the time away with friends and family. 

A large part of the festival is private so you can’t just pop into any tent on the fairgrounds and join in on the fun, but, as you walk around, there are plenty of public spaces and a few public casetas (tents) to enjoy the fun!

This is one of the most quintessential festivals in Spain!

(Note: Many Andalucían towns and cities have ferias. But Seville’s is the biggest. It is also the most exclusive. Many visitors prefer other ferias as the casetas in other cities’ are not always private)

Fiesta de la Trashumancia: sheep in the streets of Madrid

In the streets of Madrid on usually the last Sunday of October, make way for thousands of sheep to flood the streets!

This event started in the mid-1990s and represents the conservation of biodiversity and climate change. Thousands of sheep ‘block’ the streets of the capital to defend against excessive livestock farming. They follow a specific route through the middle of the city and you can follow along by downloading the map.

If you want to see livestock taking over Puerta del Sol and other famous Madrid streets and squares, then don’t miss this festival in Spain!

San Isidro in Madrid: in honor of Madrid’s patron saint

San Isidro, Madrid’s patron saint, is celebrated in Madrid around the 15th of May. Isidore the Laborer is known for performing hundreds of miracles and had an expert ability for locating water. This festival is one week long and is packed with activities, concerts, and shows all over the city, specifically in San Isidro park in the Latina district and in the center.

You’ll be able to enjoy the amazing May weather and numerous free activities during this lively festival in Spain’s capital!

Sant Jordi in Barcelona: books, roses, and dragons

To commemorate the death of Saint George thousands of years ago, this festival has been officially celebrated in Barcelona since the 15th century. It is considered the Catalan equivalent of Saint Valentine's day where books and roses are given as gifts between significant others or to important people in one’s life.

The legend surrounding Saint George begins with a dragon terrorizing towns around Mont Blanc who would feed on the animals in the area. Before the dragon could feed on people, a knight swooped in and killed it, from that spot a rose bush appeared.

Every 23rd of April, Catalonia celebrates this famous saint with tons of cultural activities, book signings, and live readings. This is by far our favorite Catalan festival in Spain!

La Mercè in Barcelona: human towers and more

Another huge celebration in Barcelona is La Mercè, Barcelona’s largest street party that is held at the end of September. This festival goes for 5 days and celebrates Barcelona’s patron saint, the Mare de Deu de la Mercè to welcome the end of summer and the beginning of cooler weather.

There are demon/devils costumes, a giant’s parade, fire runs, projection shows, and the famous Castellers (Human Towers). Be sure to get to the square very early if you want to get in a decent spot to see the human towers!

Las Fallas in Valencia: bonfires and a constant street party

This is perhaps one of the most famous festivals in Spain!

Las Fallas is a combination of art, debauchery, and tradition on the Mediterranean coast in Valencia. The tradition of Fallas started with a celebration of the arrival of spring, around March 19th, by burning pieces of wood that were used to hold lights up during the winter.

Since then, Las Fallas has escalated into massive parties in the streets. Each neighborhood organizes a falla, and it is the responsibility of the appointed “casal faller” to raise the funds throughout the year to construct it.

The seemingly all-city street party lasts for five days. On the final night, the fallas are all burned in giant bonfires, and people add just about anything to these.

If you are craving peace and quiet, this is not the time to visit Valencia. But if you want to take part in the massive festival, Las Fallas is a fun and unique time to visit the city.

San Juan and all over the coastal areas: more bonfires in celebration of summer

To celebrate the beginning of summer and a bit similar to Las Fallas, coastal towns and cities all over Spain have bonfires to pay tribute to fire and water on June 23rd.

Highlights vary from region to region but can include folklore parades, pyrotechnics show where a giant doll-like structure (muñeco) is burned, and fireworks competition. You will also see people writing wishes on paper and then setting them on fire. Jumping over these wishes is said to make them come true.

If jumping over a fire is not your thing, you can also hop into the sea at midnight. That too is said to ward off the evil spirits from the year prior and bring great luck.

This is one of those festivals in Spain that happens in many locations along the coast, but those in Alicante province are the biggest and most noted. Other important San Juan festivals take place in Málaga, Cádiz, Almería, and Valencia.

Bando de la Huerta in Murcia: honoring Murciano traditions

One of the biggest festivals of spring is held in the city of Murcia, just south of Valencia. Dating back to the mid 1800’s, Bando de la Huerta is celebrated on the first Tuesday after Easter and it honors traditional orchard societies and the city’s patron saint, the Virgin Fuensanta. 

You'll see men and women dressed in traditional vests, hats, and skirts, with impeccable embroidery honoring the patron saint with offerings in front of the main cathedral. Later in the day, the parade makes its way through the city center and the days following the parade on Sunday, you can enjoy folklore performances and Murican gastronomy in the main squares and gardens.

Of course one of the stars of the show, no pun intended, is Murcia’s local beer, Estrella de Levante. The star of waking up (as translated into English) flows all over the city from its signature green taps.

Murcia is one of Spain’s more local, underrated, and off-the-beaten-path cities in Spain. And Bando de la Huerta is one of the best times to be there. Celebrate this festival in Spain with the locals in their beloved city!

Festival de San Sebastián in Palma de Mallorca: dragons in the street

Heading over to the Balearic Islands, on the largest island of Mallorca, honoring Palma de Mallorca’s patron saint, Sant Sebastià (in Catalan), is celebrated officially on January 20th, but there are numerous events the days before leading up to the official festival. 

The night before there is a concert with several performances. The giant’s parade event leads to the main plaza with a spectacle of a giant fire-breathing dragon as people continue to light a massive bonfire. There are free concerts throughout the city center so you’re sure to find the music you most enjoy!

If you are lucky enough to be in Palma de Mallorca during this festival in Spain, which is the island’s low-season, you are in for a treat!

Cheese festival in Trujillo: celebrating Spanish cheese

In the region of Extremadura along the Portuguese border, the well-preserved medieval city of Trujillo hosts its famous annual cheese festival. In the spring around the end of April or the beginning of May there are hundreds of different types of cheeses to try at this historic festival.

You’ll try all sorts of local and international cheese and even get to learn how cheese is traditionally made. Cheese is plentiful, but you will also enjoy concerts and cultural events here.

Some famous Spanish cheeses you cannot miss out on are queso tetilla from Galicia and cabrales from Asturias.  And of course the local Extermaduran cheeses including the famous Torta del Casar and lesser known varieties such as Queso Ibores. 

Protip: many localities have festivals centered around food. Keep an eye out for them as they are a way to sample some of the best food in Spain, down to a local level!

Festival de la Sidra de Nava, Asturias: the detail is in the pour

And while we are on the subject of gastronomical centered festivals in Spain… Asturian cider, from the region of Asturias in northern Spain, is one of the country’s most valuable treasures. The centrally located city of Nava is one of the largest producers of cider in the region so you won’t find a dry cup anywhere. The cider festival is quite young, only dating back to the 60’s and it pays tribute to the delicious drink and has more recently become very popular, drawing thousands of people every summer.

During the second weekend of July (and the week preceding), there are numerous performances, free tastings, and pouring competitions.

Speaking of pouring, pay close attention to how they do it. It is a skill and an art form and something very unique of sidra from Asturias!

Albariño festival in Cambados, Galicia: honoring one of Spain’s most beloved white wines

Heading west from Asturias to Galicia, also in Northern Spain, we find yet another festival of Spain that is all about the local drink of choice. In this case, it’s wine, specifically Albariño wine.

During the first week of August celebrate the world-renowned white wine (Albariño) from Galicia in the village of Cambados in the Rías Baixis area. The entertainment during this week includes educational courses, concerts, folklore performances, open-air parties, and thousands of bottles of this infamous, crisp wine.

Come thirsty!

Batalla de Vino in Haro, La Rioja: get literally soaked in wine

Moving along to another one of Spain’s wine regions, the famous La Rioja, for yet another festival in Spain centered around the wine!

Grab some cheap white clothing and prepare to be soaked!  The infamous Battle of Wine of course, has to happen in Spain’s most famous wine region of La Rioja. The region is north of Madrid and the town of Haro is very small and west of the capital of Logroño. 

Hundreds of gallons of red wine are thrown at others around June 29th to honor three saints, San Juan, San Felipe, and San Pedro. Enjoy soaking others in red wine and afterward, go enjoy a hardy meal followed by live music and dance.

Don’t bring any clothing that you actually like! It’s a sure thing it’ll be stained red.

Batalla de Flores, Laredo, Cantabria: more battles, this time flowers

Getting off the theme of wine, but keeping the battle going, this unique festival in Spain celebrates flowers.

The battle of the flowers finds the streets of Laredo in Cantabria overflowing with colorful fresh flowers on the last Friday of August. A parade of fresh flowers runs through the town center as the judges critique each float. Visit local vendors at the street markets and live performances until the end of the evening when the best float is chosen and accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display. 

July and August are both great months to visit the north of Spain as the temperature is great and it doesn't rain as much.

Euskal Jaiak in Basque Country: one of the most unique festivals in Spain in one of Spain’s most unique regions

The Basque Country is unlike any other region in Spain. With such a mix of culture and traditions, it’s a guarantee that festivals here are one of a kind. The first week of September in Zarautz, the festival of Euskal Jaiak sports competition displays activities that are directly linked to Basque history and culture, such as wood chopping, stone-lifting, and handball. 

September 1st is officially cider day in Basque Country where you’ll sip lots of cider accompanied by a variety of pintxos. Experience the musical stylings of traditional basque musicians, accordion players, and dancers throughout the streets and revel in this unique Basque tradition.

Tempted by these delightful festivals in Spain?

These are just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many more.

That is why hiring a Spain travel specialist to help you personally design your trip is the smart way to go.

We offer several levels of Spain traveling planning services. Spain Less Traveled can work with all different types of travelers and travel planners, from those who want our full support throughout the entire travel planning process to those who simply need to talk with a Spain destination specialist to assist with specific aspects of travel planning. 

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