Feria de Malaga
The summer fair in Malaga is a 10 day long party with lively celebrations. The fair commemorates the re-conquest of the city by Isabella and Ferdinand in 1487. The celebrations commence on 15th August.
There are two separate aspects to the celebrations: the daytime revelry is through the streets of Malaga. The main festivities are concentrated on the street called Marques de Larios. This street and the area surrounding are decorated with colourful paper lanterns and flags, people take to the streets in traditional colourfuloutfits. There is music and flamenco, and roadside stands selling food & drink, and a variety of trinkets.
At half past nine on the evening of the first Saturday of the Feria, the Mayor of Malaga inaugurates the fair by switching on the lights of the fair ground. There is the traditional opening address or ‘Pregon de la Feri’, before the fair officially begins.
At 12 o’clock midnight, a magnificent sound and light firework display begins. During half an hour over 4,000 kg of firecrackers fill the Malaga sky with light, fire, music and colour, coinciding with the lighting up of the Paseo del Parque’s artistic illumination.
At different sites on the Park and Plaza de la Marina, there are music shows to suit everyone’s tastes: flamenco or verdial music, pop-rock, etc. Thousands of people of all ages come out in force to have fun and enjoy this first night of the Fair that lasts until the small hours. The whole nine days of the fair are characterized by performances from various artists, dancing, and workshops, competitions, games for children, cookouts and exhibitions which are enjoyed by people from all walks of life. The conclusion of the fair is on the 24th, when fireworks bring a spectacular end to the fair.
The fairground is full of ‘casetas’ – which are large booths for entertainment and refreshment.
Semana Santa
The tradition of Holy Week celebrations in Malaga goes back to the times of the Catholic monarchs. With a history of over 5000 years, the Semana Santa is an important part of Malaga’s religious and cultural life. The various processions here are famous for their grandeur and splendour. The parades leave each of the town’s churches and go through the streets; carrying the tronos (floats) with their lifelike statues of Christ on the Cross and his mother the Virgin Mary in mourning. The processions are organised by the religious brotherhoods, representing guilds of tradesmen or other groups. They spend all year long preparing the elaborate costumes and decorations. The Holy Week celebrations in Malaga are marked by joy, noise, cheer, spontaneous saetas (flamenco verses sung at the processions) and applauses as the images pass by. This is in complete contrast to the celebrations in the rest of Andalucia.
http://www.semana-santa-malaga.com/english/holy-week-malaga.html
Virgen del Carmen
This festival is celebrated in all the costal cities and towns of Malaga. Every year on the 16th of July, processions are taken out in honour of Virgen el Carmen- who is believed to be the protector of fishermen. On the day of the festival, the image of Carmen is carried through the various fishing communities and districts of Malaga. The image is then taken out to sea in a flower bedecked boat. The image is returned to the temple only after midnight. The bearers are in the traditional white shirts, black trousers and waistbands.
People gather in thousands to witness and take part in the festivities. There are variations in the celebrations according to the different towns. In Malaga an iron image of Carmen- which has been submerged for the whole year- is pulled out of the water by divers. In La Carihuela she is carried through air, and in los Boliches of Fuengirola the image is carried on the shoulders.
