Malaga Events, Fiestas and Festivals 2014 / 2015
(Malaga, Costa del Sol, Spain)
Malaga has long been a major holiday destination with numerous attractions for visitors to the city. However, Malaga is also home to an extensive calendar of events, offering many superb festivals held each year in the Malaga area.
Festival highlights include the city's carnival in February, Holy Week celebrations approaching Easter, the Fiesta de San Juan (Feast of St. John) each June, and the La Virgen del Carmen celebrations in July - which features a parade of local fishermen. Also worth noting, the Feria de Malaga is a spectacular event which takes place each August, when the whole city seems to party.
National Public Holidays
- 1st January - Ano Nuevo / New Year's Day
- 5th January - Epifania / Epiphany
- 19th March - Dia de San José / St. Joseph's Day
- Late March or early April - Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday
- Late March or early April - Viernes Santo / Good Friday
- 1st May - Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day
- 15th August - La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption
- 12th October - Nacional de Espana / National Day
- 1st November - Todos los Santos / All Saints' Day
- 6th December - Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day
- 8th December - La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- 25th December - Navidad / Christmas Day
Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- Cabalgata de los Reyes (Three Holy Kings / Wise Men) - January 5th, historic Spanish event which is held at many large cities and towns, including both Malaga and Marbella. Three locals dress in costumes and ride around on horses, followed by decorated floats, giving sweets and small presents to the crowds of children who watch this popular event.
February
- Carnaval - early February, a notable Spanish carnival celebration, with numerous parades and festivities in and around Malaga.
March
- Holy Week - mid-March, Holy Week in Malaga, with a number of religious celebrations leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
April
- Market of the Documentary European and Latin American (MERCADOC) - mid-April, a prominent multi-media television event held every year in Malaga, attended by around 50 countries.
May
- Romeria of the Juanar Cross - early May, historic festival dating back to the end of the 19th century, with a range of events close to Malaga, centred around the Sierra Blanca Mountain.
June
- Dia del Pescaito (Fried Fish Day) - early June, a summer seafood festival in neighbouring Torremolinos, just 10 miles / 16 km southwest of Malaga, attracting both locals and tourists, together with a range of events held on the Playa de La Carihuela beach.
- Fiesta de San Juan (Feast of St. John) - mid-June, an enormous religious festival throughout Malaga, with street entertainment, large bonfires where people jump over the flames, fireworks and swimming in the sea at midnight, with similar festivities held all over Spain.
- The Movies of Summer in your Neighbourhood - late June, the 'Nights of the Movies' festival includes many screenings of recently released summer films, at numerous cinemas and similar venues around the Malaga area.
- San Bernabé Fiesta and Summer Fair - mid-June, held on the week closest to June 11th in nearby Marbella, just 58 km / 36 miles west of Malaga, honouring Marbella's Patron Saint. This seven-day event features bullfights in the centre, horse and cart rides, food and all kinds of drink, and a fair ground, with many events held around Marbella's Old Town district, the Plaza San Bernabé square and also Alameda Park.
July
- La Virgen del Carmen - mid-July, a large group of towns and villages located along the Costa del Sol celebrate this notable religious festival, with fishermen parading along the street. Other festival highlights include chapel masses, fleets of fishing boats heading to Marbella's Puerto Banús district - just a short distance from Malaga, and religious statues stored in underwater caves by divers, ending with a spectacular fireworks display.
August
- Feria de Malaga - mid-August, one of Malaga's biggest annual events, when the whole city parties, with fancy dress costumes, traditional Spanish music and Flamenco dancing, street entertainment, open-air concerts and general making merry. Many people choose to visit Malaga at this time of the year, to witness this colourful spectacle and the must-see festivities, when the Marques de Larios street is filled with paper lanterns and colourful decorations, together with a nearby fair ground, full of fast rides.
- Nuestra Senora de la Victoria Pilgrimage - mid-August, pilgrims arrive in Malaga each year on horseback, and horse and carriages, to remember Nuestra Senora de la Victoria, their patron saint.
- Ascension of the Virgin Fair- mid-August, including dance tents (casetas) and a lively wine festival.
September
- Semana Internacional de Cine (International Movie Week) - early September, held in Marbella's Puerto Banús area at the Gran Marbella complex, close to Malaga, attracting a host of famous celebrities and directors who arrive to promote their films, with various screenings and awards.
October
- Fiestas of San Pedro de Alcántara - mid-October, held on the week around October 19th (the Patron Saint's day), when the central streets of San Pedro (situated around 68 km / 42 miles from Malaga) are filled with colouful decorations. Both locals and visitors to the area party throughout the day and night.
- Dia de la Hispanidad / National Day Festival - October 12th, a historic festival celebrating the heritage of Spain, and in particular Malaga, held at various venues around the city.
November
- Fiesta del Tostón (Day of Toston) - early November, a notable religious festival which has long been an integral part of life in Marbella every November - 58 km / 36 miles west of Malaga, with All Saints' Day celebrations being held on November 1st, together with chestnut roasting and local dishes, overnight camping and partying until late.
December
- New Year's Eve - December 31st, an array of lively parties and celebrations held throughout Malaga and in nearby resorts along the Costa del Sol, ending with midnight fireworks.