No matter what time of year you choose to visit Spain, you’re sure to find exciting Spanish festivals in full swing. From fabulous Spanish spring festivals and sizzling summer celebrations to a Christmas festival that involves throwing flour and eggs in the street, Spain has events to entice all types of travellers. We’ll run through the best festivals in Spain for a truly spectacular trip abroad.
Spanish Festivals in Spring
Spain usually enjoys balmy spring weather, with spring temperatures ranging from around 26-28 ℃ in southern parts. Spain’s spring is also the country’s lushest season, with exotic spring flowers blossoming, making it a beautiful time to visit. If you’re looking for spring entertainment in Spain, these Spanish festivals will be right up your street:
Semana Santa
Semana Santa is a Spanish Easter festival that takes place during Holy Week each year. While the exact dates vary based on when Easter falls, the festival usually takes place in early to mid-April, beginning on Palm Sunday through to Holy Saturday. Semana Santa celebrations happen all throughout Spain, but Seville is one of the best places to see the festival. Semana Santa in Seville involves spectacular religious street processions between the city’s churches and cathedrals.
Even for non-religious visitors, this festival is definitely worth a visit to see the amazing historical icons and experience the devotional atmosphere in the city. There are also extravagant Semana Santa celebrations in Toledo and Málaga.
Córdoba Patios Festival
The Córdoba Patio Festival in Andalusia is one of Spain’s most beautiful springtime festivals. This Spanish festival usually takes place sometime between the first and third week in May and is one of the most visually stunning celebrations in Spain. During the festival, residents in Córdoba decorate their patios, courtyards, and balconies with vivid flower displays to celebrate spring’s arrival. The tradition has been going since the 1920s and draws crowds each year.
Visitors to the festival can walk around the patios for free and find them in various districts throughout the city. Festival maps show you where to walk, and some residents also decorate their houses with traditional Spanish utensils. This festival is one of the most relaxing and inviting events to see in Spain and completely transforms Córdoba.
April Fair of Seville
If you’re looking for Spanish festivals that really let you soak up the local culture, the April Fair in Seville is a must-see event. The April Fair in Seville is held in the Los Remedios and Tablada neighbourhoods and sees these districts transformed into vibrant carnivals, with local stalls, traditional flamenco dancing, and live music. Visitors will also see a wide range of traditional Spanish costumes and can enjoy the incredible variety of Spanish dishes on offer.
However, one of the best things about the festival is the lively and friendly atmosphere. Although tourist and residents’ booths are technically separate during the event, locals always mix with tourists, making this a brilliant festival to make friends, practise your Spanish, and truly immerse yourself in another culture.
Spanish Festivals in Summer
Spain experiences scorching summer weather that’s perfect for beach holidays or for enjoying an outdoor music festival. These Spanish summer festivals are some of the best that Europe has to offer for the sunniest season:
Haro Wine Festival
The Haro Wine Festival takes place in Haro, just south of Bilbao, each year on the last few days of June. Haro is famous for its Rioja vineyards, and the festival is their ultimate wine celebration. Festivalgoers participate in an enormous wine fight, drenching each other in red wine, and then run around an arena filled with cows. After that, there’s a huge party where plenty of wine gets consumed.
The festival is based on a historical battle, which devolved into a wine fight between two wine-making Spanish towns in the 10th century. The local wine is delicious, and the region is also known for incredible tapas, making it an excellent trip for wine lovers and dedicated foodies. The festival is also a great option if you like to get out into nature, with plenty of hiking trails nearby.
The Running of the Bulls
The Running of the Bulls is one of the most famous Spanish festivals and takes place in the first two weeks of July each year. The festival in Pamplona includes not only the bull run but also an incredible street party atmosphere. The bull run invites runners to outpace a herd of bulls charging through the Pamplona streets. This aspect of the festival is not for the faint-hearted, and people eagerly watch from the balconies alongside it.
The festival’s Casco Viejo street party is also one of the event’s major draws, bringing together crowds from around the world. This festival is truly an adrenaline junkie’s dream and an unforgettable experience.
Gràcia Street Festival
Barcelona is one of Spain’s most vibrant cities and hosts some incredible Spanish festivals throughout the year. If you’re visiting Spain in summer, the Gràcia Festival is a great way to see the city at its finest. The Gràcia Street Festival happens in the Gràcia district from 14-20 August. The festival features street parades with floats and amazing costumes.
The street decorations and stalls selling traditional food are something to behold. The Gràcia festival is also a great event if you’re travelling with young kids or as a family. The festival includes rides and shows for kids and is free to explore.
La Tomatina
La Tomatina is held in Buñol in Valencia on 31 August and is a crazy experience if you’re looking for something unique. This Spanish festival is a giant tomato fight in the street and is just as fun as it sounds. The festival has been running for 70 years, and although around 20,000 tickets are available each year, they sell out fast. This festival is one where you should book your tickets early.
St John’s Eve
If you adore a good fireworks display, the St John’s Eve Spanish festival is for you. St John’s Eve is held on 23 June and celebrates the start of summer. The festival is celebrated all over Spain, but in Barcelona and Valencia, the locals ring in the season with a massive fireworks extravaganza and lively street parties. In coastal villages and regions like Galicia, St John’s Eve is often celebrated with bonfires on the beach.
Spanish Festivals in Autumn
Just because the summer season is over doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing Spanish festivals to visit in autumn. If you love autumn travel, check out these fall festivals in Spain:
La Castanyada
La Castanyada takes place in Barcelona and is the perfect festival for those who enjoy all things cosy and autumn-themed. This festival is on 1 November and centres around chestnuts, which are abundant during this season. Visitors to the festival can enjoy some traditional baking, with chestnut-themed cakes and patisseries available. The overall event has a cosy, wholesome feel and is the perfect way to see out the autumn and welcome the winter.
Rioja Wine Harvest Festival
The Rioja Wine Harvest Festival happens at the end of September and takes place in Logroño. Festivalgoers can participate in the traditional grape crushing event, which involves stamping grapes with bare feet to make wine. The area is famous for its tasty Rioja vintage, and wine-lovers will enjoy being part of the action. The celebration includes live traditional music, bullfights, and dance performances.
Spanish Festivals in Winter
Spain usually enjoys moderately cold-yet-sunny winters that are perfect for exploring the outdoors and enjoying some winter activities. Some popular winter festivals in Spain include:
Tamborrada
The Tamborrada festival in San Sebastián is a festival that celebrates drumming and is a true highlight of the Spanish winter festivals calendar. The festival takes place on 20 January 20 and sees thousands of musicians and marching drum bands take to the streets for an exciting parade. The festival also features food stalls selling traditional Basque delicacies and live performances. The relaxed-yet-lively vibe makes it a great day for families and music lovers alike.
Els Enfarinats
Els Enfarinats is another famous food-throwing festival that takes place in Alicante on 28 December 28. The festival is a local tradition and involves people rushing out into the street to throw eggs and flour at each other. The festival also includes historical re-enactments and storytelling activities commemorating the tradition’s origins. It is believed to have originated around 200 years ago and symbolically represents the Biblical Massacre of the Innocents.
Modern-day Els Enfarinats celebrations are all in good fun and are a truly unique part of Spanish culture. Perfect if you like to get your hands dirty and embrace historical traditions.
The Festival of Fire
As winter draws to a close, one of the most popular Spanish festivals in Valencia gets underway. The Festival of Fire takes place from 15-19 March and combines an entertaining daylight street parade with fireworks and evening street parties. The parade features comical floats, some of which are burned on a huge bonfire in the evenings. Visitors will also see plenty of locals wearing traditional Spanish dress and find delicious local food.
The festival concludes with a mass cannon firing around the city, bringing the event to a spectacular close. The event is popular with tourists and locals alike and is a truly memorable occasion.
